Chapter 3 - Locked Out
The hospital waiting room was painfully quiet at four in the morning.
Ethan sprinted through the sliding glass doors, his heavy boots echoing on the linoleum floor.
He was completely out of breath, his face pale with absolute terror.
He rushed to the front desk, slamming his hands down on the counter.
"My wife is here, Amelia Carter!" Ethan shouted at the startled nurse.
"She was brought in by ambulance, I need to see her right now!"
The nurse quickly typed the name into her computer, her expression remaining neutral.
"Amelia Carter is currently in the high-risk maternity ward," she replied calmly.
"Thank God," Ethan breathed, turning toward the elevators.
"Sir, you cannot go up there," the nurse commanded sharply.
Ethan froze, spinning back around with wild, desperate eyes.
"I am her husband, you cannot keep me away from my wife!" he yelled.
The nurse crossed her arms, completely unfazed by his loud outburst.
"The patient has explicitly requested that her husband not be allowed on the floor," she stated clearly.
"She has listed you as a restricted visitor."
Ethan felt the entire room spin around him in dizzying circles.
"That is a mistake, she is just scared and confused!" Ethan argued weakly.
"There is no mistake, sir," a cold, familiar voice said from behind him.
Ethan turned and saw Sarah, Amelia’s fiercely loyal best friend.
Sarah was a ruthless corporate lawyer, and she looked ready for a bloodbath.
"Sarah, please, you have to talk to her," Ethan begged, his voice cracking.
"I made a mistake, I panicked in the elevator, I didn't know she was hurt!"
Sarah scoffed, a harsh sound of pure disbelief.
"You didn't know she was hurt because you never bothered to look at her, Ethan," Sarah spat venomously.
"You looked at your ex-girlfriend, you touched your ex-girlfriend, and you carried your ex-girlfriend."
Ethan looked down at the floor, tears of shame finally spilling down his face.
"Is the baby safe?" he whispered, completely defeated.
"The doctors are doing everything they can to stop the bleeding and halt the early labor," Sarah answered coldly.
"But Amelia’s blood pressure is dangerously high because of the trauma you caused tonight."
Sarah stepped closer, pointing a sharp, perfectly manicured finger at his chest.
"If anything happens to that baby, or to Amelia, it is entirely your fault."
Sarah turned on her heel and walked toward the secure elevators.
"I am staying right here until she sees me!" Ethan shouted after her.
"Get comfortable," Sarah replied without looking back.
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"She is never going to look at your face ever again."
Ethan collapsed into a cheap plastic waiting room chair, burying his face in his hands.
