I emit a guttural sound, I have a dry throat and it
burns and is painful. I try to move the other hand
but it’s attached to an intravenous drip and I don’t
have enough strength.
He lifts his head suddenly and what I see in his
eyes makes me shake and I’m paralyzed with fear.
Patrick jumps to his feet and steps back from
the bed. He’s moving his lips but no sound is
coming out of his mouth. Then he comes close
again and he caresses my forehead with shaking
hands.
I close my eyes and feel that sweet tender
contact that I’ve missed so badly and let myself
sob desperately.
“Shh,” he whispers, delicately kissing my tears.
“Please don’t get upset. I am here and I always
will be.”
I nod and try to talk.
“Don’t force it, Erin. Be calm. You can’t move,
okay?”
“The b-b… baby?” I whisper.
Patrick sits down and takes my hand again.
Then he kisses it and breaks out in tears and
judging from his tired, defeated face this situation
must have been going on for some time now.
I’ve never seen anyone cry like this. I’ve never
seen someone so desperate and anguished.
Lost.
He dries his tears with his sweatshirt sleeve and
then looks at me with those deep dark eyes so that
