Chapter 7 - THE HOSPITAL ROOMTwo hours later, I walked through the double doors of the pediatric ward at Bellevue Hospital.
The morning sun was shining brightly now, casting warm golden rays across the sterile white floors. Inside Room 402, Ethan was sitting up in a hospital bed, wearing a clean blue gown, eating a warm stack of pancakes provided by the nursing staff. Little Noah was sleeping peacefully in a clear plastic bassinet beside him, wrapped in warm, thick blankets, his breathing steady and calm.
When Ethan looked up and saw me walking through the door, his eyes widened slightly.
“Dad?” he whispered, setting his fork down.
I crossed the room quickly, pulling a chair right up beside his bed and wrapping my arms around my fourteen-year-old son, holding him tighter than I had in years.
“I’m so sorry, Ethan,” I choked out, feeling a hot tear slip down my cheek against his hair. “I am so, so sorry I wasn’t here. You should never have had to carry that weight.”
Ethan buried his face in my shoulder, his small frame trembling slightly as the remaining tension of the last three days finally melted away. “I tried, Dad. I really tried to keep him warm.”
“You did more than keep him warm, son,” I whispered, pulling back to look him in the eyes. “You saved his life. You are the strongest, bravest person I know.”
A soft knock sounded at the open door.
Dr. Sarah Vance—no relation to my parasitic brother-in-law—stepped into the room holding a clipboard, smiling gently. “Good morning, Mr. Varrick. I have wonderful news. Both boys are completely out of danger. Ethan’s exhaustion levels are dropping, and little Noah’s core temperature has stabilized. They’re ready to be discharged whenever you are.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” I said, letting out a breath I felt like I’d been holding for three days. “Where are we going?”
May you like
Ethan looked up, a hesitant hope in his eyes. “Are we going back to the apartment?”
“No,” I smiled, standing up and taking both of my sons' hands. “We are packing up everything and moving into a new home. Somewhere warm, somewhere safe, and somewhere where nobody will ever hurt or abandon you again.”
