Page 59 of Revenge

“I’m going to the office. Go home.” I pull out and from rearview I see Fiona fall. I break instantly.“Fiona,” I get out of the car and run to her. She is unconscious.“Fiona,” I say, holding her, but she doesn’t respond.

As I wait for an ambulance, a million thoughts cross my mind. I think of my daughter. Has this affected her chance at life? I’m tired of Fiona’s bullshit. She doesn’t think of anyone other than herself. Here I am not knowing if my daughter is alive because of her stupidity. It takes the ambulance ten minutes to long for my liking. Finally they strap her and load her into the ambulance.

“Sir, you can come with us or meet us at St. Josephs Hospital.” The Paramedic tells me. Is he really asking that?

“I am riding with you.” I say already getting in the ambulance.

He orders me to sit back as he is moving things around. I look at Fiona and don’t see any blood but she looks pale. The air is filled with the sound of a monitor and the sirens. Fiona remains unconscious and I feel useless. The life of my daughter could be in danger and there is nothing I can do about it. Once in the hospital they unload her and rush her inside. The Paramedics are giving the details of their examination and her name. I follow them but I am stopped as the wheel her to room in the emergency room.

“Sir, you need to wait in the waiting room.” A nurse says. I don’t move.

“That is my daughter and wife.”

“Please sir. Someone will get you and update you.”

Even though I don’t want to I need to let them do their job. I need them to make sure my daughter is fine. But as the seconds pass I find it harder to remain calm. I am anxious. I need to know their status. I am going to demand to be given an update when I hear my mother’s voice. I called her on my way to the hospital.

“Sweetheart,” my mother greets.

“You didn’t need to come, mom.”

“Of course I did. Any update?”

“Not yet.” I start pacing.

I look at my watch desperate in need of an update. Why is taking them so long to tell me how my daughter is? A few minutes later, Oliver arrives.

“Did something happen to Ava?” I ask in a panic.

“No.” I let out a breath.“Any updates?” He asks me.

“No.”

It’s another twenty minutes before anyone comes to give us an update.

“Fiona Manarch’s family?” A man in scrubs asks.

“I’m Viktor Manarch, her husband. How is my daughter?” I ask, not caring about Fiona.

“It was touch and go at first. I’m afraid to tell you it’s a waiting game now. Mrs. Manarch had placental abruption.” I look at him confused.“Placental abruption is a when the placenta separates from the uterus. We had to do an emergency c-section. Your daughter is in the NICU now. Her lungs are immature and her weight is only four pounds.”

“Fuck,” I run my fingers through my hair.“And Fiona?” I ask even though I could care less.

“She is stable for now. We will know more in a few hours.”

“When can I see my daughter?”

“You can see her for a few minutes. We are running tests.”

“Go, sweetheart. We will be here.” My mother says. Oliver grips my shoulder.

I could have lost my daughter. All Fiona thinks about is herself. Her recklessness could have killed my daughter. Now my daughter is in the NICU. I don’t know what happened. One minute I’m pulling out to leave, and the next, I see Fiona fall. Was she holding on to the car that when I pulled out she tripped and fell? I walk into the NICU, where there are a few parents next to incubators. I follow the nurses instructions and go to the left where my daughter is.

She looks so defenseless. I walk up to the incubator and can’t help the tears. She is so small. I’m not a praying man, but I can’t help praying that I get to know her. To see her grow. To carry her in my arms and walk her down the aisle someday. To show her how much I already love her. I would do and give anything to make sure she has a future.

“You need to leave Mr. Manarch. We have to check her.” A nurse tells me as she walks towards me.

I stand outside the room and watch as they probe her. She begins to cry, and every cry is like a knife piercing me. I don’t want to see her in pain. All this shit is Fiona’s doing. She will pay for putting my daughter through this.

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