PART 14
November brought freezing rain,
the cold drops tapping relentlessly against the windows like a million tiny fingers.
In the middle of the night,
a sharp,
distressed cry broke through the darkness of the master bedroom.
Ryan sat up instantly,
his heart racing as he recognized Ethan's voice sounding muffled and strained.
He threw back the blankets,
rushing down the hallway before Emma could even fully wake up.
When he entered the nursery,
he found Ethan sitting up in his crib,
his skin flushed hot,
his breathing heavy and wheezing.
Ryan reached into the crib,
lifting his son against his chest,
feeling the intense heat radiating from the boy's tiny body.
Emma rushed into the room a moment later,
her eyes wide with an instant,
crippling panic that mirrored the night of the accident.
"He's burning up,
Ryan,
oh my god,
he can't breathe properly,"
she cried,
her hands trembling violently as she touched Ethan's cheek.
The memory of the past threatened to overwhelm them both,
the ghost of the hospital room looming large in the dark.
Ryan knew he had to be the anchor,
he could not afford to lose control or panic now.
"Emma,
look at me,"
Ryan said,
his voice calm,
steady,
and commanding without being harsh.
She looked up,
her tear-filled eyes searching his for strength in the dim nightlight.
"I need you to grab his heavy coat and his diaper bag while I get the car started."
He pressed his hand against her cheek,
grounding her,
forcing the panic to recede.
"We are going to the hospital,
he has a high fever,
but we are going to be completely fine,
I promise you."
His certainty acted like a shield,
May you like
breaking Emma out of her paralysis,
allowing her to nod and move quickly into action.
