"Don't talk!" His voice was trembling with a panic and terror I'd never heard before. "Damn it, where's your inhaler?"
"Bedroom... drawer..."
He carried me toward the back rest room, kicking the door open.
"Where? Which drawer?"
"...Left side..."
He set me on the couch and rushed to the drawer, ransacking it. Things scattered everywhere.
Finally, he found the blue inhaler.
"Found it!" He rushed back, dropping to his knees before me. "Open your mouth!"
I weakly parted my lips. He inserted the inhaler and pressed the spray button.
"Deep breaths! Follow my rhythm!" One hand supported the back of my neck, the other controlled the inhaler. "Breathe in... breathe out... that's right..."
The medication entered my lungs and the suffocation finally began to ease.
Once, twice, three times...
I gasped deeply, feeling my lungs finally working normally again.
"Better?" Kholod knelt before me, cupping my face in his hands, thumbs gently wiping the cold sweat from my cheeks. "Noelle, look at me. Are you okay?"
I nodded weakly.
"I'm taking you to the hospital." He moved to lift me.
"No..." I tried to push him away, my voice weak. "Why are you here..."
"Now's not the time!" He scooped me up horizontally. "You need to get checked!"
"Leo..." I struggled, turning toward the cradle by the door. "My baby..."
Leo was still crying, his little face flushed red.
"I'll have someone watch him!" Kholod strode out of the rest room carrying me.
"Nick!" he shouted toward the door. A strange man entered immediately. "Take care of the child!"
"Yes, boss!"
As he carried me out of the gallery, I heard passersby whispering. A black sedan sat conspicuously out of place on the street. Kholod settled me in the back seat, gripping my hand tightly and repeatingover and over, "Don't be afraid. We'll be at the hospital soon. Hold on, please hold on..."
His palm was damp, his voice choked. He was shrouded in uncontrolled fear. I'd never seen Kholod like this—the man who always controlled everything was now trembling for me.
"Kholod..."
"I'm here." He leaned close. "Always here."
The ER lights were blinding. A nurse stopped Kholod. "You can't go in."
"No! I need to stay with her!"
"Please don't worry, sir. Your wife will be fine..."
