AidenI took a deep breath to calm my nerves. It was that or their heads would roll. I didn’t much care for being questioned when I was the best damn surgeon Lakewood had ever seen.“I don’t have time to repeat myself. Do it now!” I yelled, placing Ruby down on a wheeled bed that they rushed to bring. The nurses brought the metal sides up and dashed her off down the corridor.Dr. Beaumont eyed me with caution. “Alright.” She nodded. “Come on team, let’s go!” She clapped her hands together, barking out orders to motivate the staff. “You heard the Dr. Let’s move quickly! We need to stop the bleeding. She’s suffered substantial blood loss; page hematology, let them know her blood group is A Rhesus negative and to get someone up here now. She needs a chest drain

AidenI frowned, shaking my head. “There’s nothing more you can do but wait,” I advised him, honestly. “If she loves you like I know she does, then she’ll come back to you.”Understanding settled into his tired brown eyes. Before, he just looked lost, but now I had given him a shred of hope to cling to.Hell, maybe I was going soft, but even I was now rooting for him. I held out my hand for him to shake and without hesitation, he took it.The next few hours flew by. Jen and Sam traveled in the air ambulance with us. Ruby was stable. I placed her on a vent and administered some fluids during the flight. Caleb kept popping into my thoughts. The sense of guilt overshadowed the anxiety I felt about going back home. I kept checking the machinery to occu

CalebI'm so alone, despite being among familiar faces who mean well, I'm desolate and bereft. Not even whole, just the shadow of a broken man whose soul is dying. In the heart of my own personal storm, I see nothing but a vortex of dark monochromatic clouds circling overhead. My mind is a tornado of plagued thoughts, taunting whispers, mocking laughter, ridiculing me for living with a fool’s hope.This agony has left me numb, but still my heart beats with a slow pounding rhythm, miniscule explosions with rippling aftershocks, forcing me to acknowledge my own pathetic existence. What I wouldn't give to leave this astral plane right now ... to make that final spiritual journey where the Goddess would alleviate this crushing heartbreak and grant me peace.Depression is a poison of the heart and mind. It spreads like rust and

Aaron"Please leave, already." April shielded her eyes with her hand. "I think I'm gonna vomit," she exaggerated.I grinned. "Bye, Elis," I held my palm up to my six-year-old son, who was happily chewing his cereal. His little ankles were crossed, swinging his legs back and forth under the bar stool. It was a good jump down from where he was sitting. It was awesome watching how he shimmied himself up, belly first on the seat. Such a little climber."Gimmie a high five!" He swung his palm hard, applying maximum effort to create the world’s biggest slap. I accentuated shaking my hand, seeing a proud grin manifest across his lips. "Wow, buddy. That's some muscle you're packing there.""That's because I eat all my broccoli," he replied in a matter-of-fact tone. "Mom said it'll make

Caleb"Hi, Jen. Is that right … is she okay?" My voice trembled, not even sounding like me."Yes," she replied as if she was relieved to have finally gotten hold of me. "I've been trying to contact you for hours. Her vitals are fine but Aiden is keeping her sedated for a couple of days, just until her body has time to recover from the surgery. She's going to be in the intensive care unit until tomorrow, then they're gonna move her into another private room, just off the ward."Upon hearing the news, it was as if the thick fog that surrounded me had started to clear, allowing me the ability to breathe at ease."Will you let me know when they're ready to wake her?" I asked, needing some peace of mind. It reassured me to know that she was sleeping, and that she was safe. I felt m