Avery sat in the dimly lit waiting room of the ICU, her hands clasped tightly together as if her grip alone could hold Ryan Hayes tethered to her. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air, and the muffled sounds of machines beeping behind closed doors set her nerves on edge.
She had never felt so helpless in her life.
Just hours earlier, Ryan had been admitted to the hospital with what seemed like a bad viral infection. But his condition had worsened rapidly, and now he was in the ICU, struggling to breathe.
“Please, please let him be okay,” Avery whispered under her breath, her voice cracking.
The Updates
A nurse walked into the waiting room, clipboard in hand. Avery shot to her feet, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Ms. Deveraux?” the nurse asked, her tone calm but serious.
“Yes,” Avery replied, her voice trembling. “How is he? What’s going on?”
The nurse offered a small, professional smile. “Mr. Hayes is stable for now, but his oxygen levels dropped significantly earlier, so we’ve placed him on a high-flow oxygen machine to help him breathe. The doctors are running additional tests to determine the cause of the sudden worsening.”
Avery nodded, her hands gripping the strap of her purse. “Can I see him?”
“Not yet, but I’ll let you know as soon as you can,” the nurse said gently.
“Thank you,” Avery said, her voice barely above a whisper.
As the nurse walked away, Avery sank back into the chair, burying her face in her hands. Her mind raced with every possible outcome, but she forced herself to hold onto hope.
The sound of hurried footsteps broke through Avery’s spiraling thoughts. She looked up to see Janice rushing into the room, her face etched with concern.
“Aves,” Janice said, pulling her best friend into a tight hug. “I came as soon after you called me. What’s happening?”
Avery took a shaky breath. “He’s in the ICU. His oxygen levels dropped, and they’re still trying to figure out what’s wrong.”
Janice’s grip on her tightened. “He’s strong, Avery. He’ll get through this.”
Avery nodded, but tears slipped down her cheeks. “I just… I can’t lose him, Jan. Not now. Not ever.”
“You won’t,” Janice said firmly. “Ryan is stubborn as hell. He’s not going anywhere.”
As the hours stretched on, Avery found herself pacing the hallway outside the ICU. She passed a small chapel and paused, drawn by the quiet sanctuary it offered.
Stepping inside, she sank to her knees in front of the altar, the dim light of the candles casting flickering shadows on the walls.
“God,” Avery began, her voice breaking. “I know I don’t talk to You often, but please… please let Ryan be okay. He’s my everything. He’s going to be a father soon, and I can’t do this without him.”
Her tears fell freely now, and her hands clenched tightly together. “If anyone deserves to make it through this, it’s him. He’s kind, he’s strong, and he’s the best person I know. Please… just let him come back to me.”
A soft tap on her shoulder startled her. She turned to see Janice standing there, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“I didn’t want to interrupt,” Janice said softly. “But I thought you might need this.” She handed Avery a tissue and sat beside her.
“Thanks,” Avery whispered, wiping her face.
Janice placed a comforting hand on her knee. “He’s going to be okay, Aves. I believe that with everything in me.”
A few hours later, the nurse returned to the waiting room and beckoned Avery forward.
“You can see him now, but just for a few minutes,” she said. “He’s still very weak.”
Avery nodded and followed the nurse down the long hallway, her heart pounding with both relief and fear. When she entered Ryan’s room, her breath hitched.
Ryan lay in the bed, pale and hooked up to various monitors and oxygen tubes. His chest rose and fell in shallow breaths, but his eyes fluttered open as she approached.
“Ryan,” Avery said, her voice shaking as she sat down beside him. She took his hand in hers, careful not to disturb the IV line.
“Aves,” Ryan whispered, his voice hoarse. “Hey.”
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she managed a small smile. “You scared me,” she said softly. “You can’t do that, Ryan. You can’t scare me like that.”
He gave her a faint smile. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to.”
“You have to get better,” she said, squeezing his hand. “We need you. I need you. And so does our baby.”
His eyes softened, and he nodded weakly. “I’ll try.”