Ethan’s heart raced as he sped through the streets, Grace’s small, fragile body cradled against his chest. Her blood soaked through his shirt, but all he could focus on was her shallow, ragged breaths. He pushed the accelerator harder, his mind filled with panic and guilt. The world around him blurred into a series of lights and honking cars, but none of it mattered.
“Hold on, baby. Please, hold on,” he whispered, barely able to hear his own voice over the roaring thoughts in his head. How did it come to this? How could he have let her out of his sight for even a second?
When he finally reached the Hospital, he jumped out of the car, his legs trembling as he rushed through the entrance, his voice hoarse as he called for help. “I need a doctor! My daughter… she fell down the stairs! Help, please!” His voice cracked, the desperation clear.
A team of medical staff quickly gathered, and a doctor stepped forward, assessing the situation with professional calm. “Bring her here, sir,” the man said, his voice steady and firm. “I’m Dr. Eric. Can you tell us what happened?”
Ethan, still gasping for breath, struggled to speak. “She… she fell down the stairs,” he managed, his throat tight with panic. “Please… she’s bleeding… save her.”
“It’s okay, sir,” Dr. Eric reassured him as he gently took Grace from Ethan’s trembling arms. “We’ll take care of her. Just stay calm.”
As they wheeled Grace into the emergency unit, Ethan stood frozen for a moment, staring after her small form as it disappeared behind the double doors. His mind replayed the horrible scene at home Grace lying at the bottom of the stairs, motionless, blood pooling beneath her head, and Tania… Tania standing there, not even trying to help.
His thoughts were interrupted as a nurse approached him. Her face was calm but serious, her hands folded in front of her. “Sir, I’m Nurse Dawn. What is your relationship with the patient?”
Ethan blinked, struggling to focus on her question. “I’m her father,” he said, his voice rough from unshed tears.
“Okay,” Nurse Dawn nodded, offering him a soft look of empathy. “Don’t worry. We’re going to do everything we can for her, but she’s lost a lot of blood. Her blood type is A positive. We have it in the blood bank, and we’ll begin transfusions immediately. Do you know if she has any allergies or medical conditions we should be aware of?”
Ethan’s mind was spinning, but he forced himself to answer. “No… no allergies. She’s healthy… she was just playing.” His voice broke as he realized how fragile his little girl had seemed in his arms.
The nurse gave a sympathetic nod before leaving him standing alone. Ethan’s legs wobbled beneath him as he made his way to the waiting room. Every step felt like a burden, his mind heavy with guilt and fear. He found an empty chair and collapsed into it, burying his face in his hands. How could this have happened? How had everything spiraled so far out of control?
Tania. Her face flashed in his mind. The cold, detached expression as she stood at the top of the stairs, watching. Smiling. Ethan felt a wave of nausea wash over him. What kind of person would just stand there, watching a child fall? His child.
Ethan clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he tried to make sense of it all. Tania had always been unpredictable, but this… this was something else. His stomach twisted as he realized that he had left Grace alone with her. He should have been more careful. He should have known.
Unable to sit still, he reached for his phone and dialed Victor’s number. As soon as Victor answered, Ethan’s voice broke. “Victor… it’s Grace. She…she fell down the stairs. I-I don’t know what to do… she’s…”
Victor’s voice was immediately filled with concern. “What? Where are you? Which hospital?”
“St. Michael’s,” Ethan replied, his voice barely audible.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can. Hang tight.”
Victor arrived fifteen minutes later, bursting through the waiting room doors and rushing over to Ethan. His eyes were wide with worry. “Ethan, what happened? How is she?”
Ethan looked up, his face pale, his eyes bloodshot from the strain. “I don’t know, Victor. I don’t know what happened.” His hands trembled as he ran them through his hair. “I came home, and I saw her rolling down the stairs. And Tania… she was just standing there, smiling. She didn’t even try to stop her. It’s like… like she wanted Grace dead.”
Victor’s face hardened as he listened, his jaw clenching. He placed a steady hand on Ethan’s shoulder, trying to ground him. “It’s okay, Ethan. You did the right thing by getting her here. Grace is strong. She’s going to be okay. We’ll figure the rest out later.”
Ethan shook his head, his heart pounding with fear and helplessness. “Tania… she’s losing her mind, Victor. I don’t know what to do. I… I trusted her, but now… I don’t even recognize her anymore.”
Victor’s grip on Ethan’s shoulder tightened. “We’ll deal with Tania later. Right now, you need to stay focused on Grace. She’s your priority. Once we know she’s out of danger, we’ll figure out what’s going on at home.”
Ethan nodded, but the knot in his stomach wouldn’t loosen. Every second felt like an eternity. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing Grace, especially like this. The weight of his guilt pressed down on him like a heavy stone, suffocating him. He had failed to protect his little girl.
Time dragged on, and each tick of the clock seemed to mock