Mom and Dad came walking back in with the doctor hot on their heels.
“Mr. Ford?” the doctor asked, a grim expression on his face.
Roman rushed up to him, but he stopped short when he took in the look in his eyes. He paused for just a moment, letting it sink in, then he started shaking his head.
“No. No, no, no, no, no.” Without even being told, he knew somehow. Falling to his knees, he held his head in his hands and cried.
My heart jumped into my throat.
No….
“I’m very sorry, but we’ve done all we can do. We couldn’t save her—” His words cut off with my mom’s shriek.
Her knees gave way, and she began to fall. Luckily, my dad was there to catch her. He pulled her to his side and lowered them both into the chairs that were lining the walls. “Shh, I’m here, baby,” he said, burying his nose in her hair as she clung to him, crying.
“The baby?” Mom choked out, tipping her head back to look at the doctor, her cheeks wet with a fresh wave of tears.
“She’s in the NICU, receiving oxygen since her lungs are still underdeveloped. Things are still in the air. She could pull through, but she could also go in the opposite direction. I can show you to her if you’d like.”
“Yes. P-Please.” Mom’s body quaked.
I was in shock. There was no way. This wasn’t happening…
Roman looked up at the doctor with his red face, bloodshot eyes, and tears rolling down his cheeks. “Where’s my wife?”
“She’s gone, Roman,” my dad said, his voice shaking.
“The baby is still fighting. Don’t you want to see her in case—” Mom called out, weeping softly. I knew she was trying to focus on the silver lining, but this… God. No.
“No!” Roman yelled, springing up to his feet. “I want to see my fucking wife.” He glared at the doctor. “Where is she? I-I need my wife.”
The doctor ran his tongue over his lips and nodded. “I’ll take you to her.”
A car honked loudly and snapped me out of the memory. I jolted back in time to avoid being hit.
“Oh God. What was that?”
I wasn’t about to tell my mom that the only child she had left was nearly run over by a speeding car.
“Just a couple of stupid kids,” I said into the phone, trying to stay as calm as I could, even with my heart nearly pounding out of my chest.
“Are you doing OK? You sound… off.”
“I’m fine, Mom.” I checked both ways and finally crossed the street.
“How are things with the breakup?”
I took a deep breath. “I’m trying not to dwell on it, but I swear they’re everywhere I look, and they’re always together. It’s like they’re just trying to make me jealous.”
“You know… I’d love to have you a little closer to home. You could transfer schools, get away from them, and move closer to me. Two birds, one stone.”
I snorted. “The dorms are all taken. I wouldn’t have any place to live, and I’d still need to find a job. I’m sure every place within walking distance of campus would be full.”
“A little birdie told me about this single dad who’s looking for a live-in nanny.”
I chuckled.
“No way he’d hire me,” I said, walking into my building.
