Chaos in the Maternity Ward
The lights flicker, then plunge us into darkness. Heart racing, I grip the sides of my bed, straining to hear above the nervous chatter of nurses and the distant beeping of machines.
“What’s happening?” I call out, my voice shaky. A nurse rushes past, her expression a blend of urgency and fear.
“Stay calm!” she shouts, her tone sharp. “Possible evacuation. There’s a security threat outside.”
My mind races to Ethan. What if he’s caught up in whatever is happening? I glance at the door, praying I’ll see him walk through, but all I get is silence.
“Ma’am, listen!” Another nurse stops next to my bed, her eyes wide. “Military is on the premises. There’s been a bomb threat.”
A cold wave washes over me. “Ethan,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. His laughter echoes in my mind, a stark contrast to the fear consuming me. What if he’s in danger?
As the lights flicker back on, my heart sinks at the sight of more personnel rushing through the hall. I tremble at the thought of chaos erupting outside. “Please, keep everyone safe,” I murmur, trying to reassure myself.
The Truth Unfolds
Suddenly, I’m being wheeled out of the room, nurses flanking me on both sides. Panic swirls inside my chest; I can’t shake the sense that something terrible is unfolding.
As we pass a window, I catch a glimpse of the parking lot, now crawling with military officers. My heart plummets when I see a familiar figure being surrounded. “No,” I gasp, my breath hitching.
“Ethan!” I scream, my voice raw. Panic surges as I watch him being taken into custody, hands behind his back. My heart races with confusion and fear.
“What’s going on?” I demand of a nearby nurse, but she can only shake her head, her expression grim.
“I don’t know,” she replies, but the alarm in her voice is evident.
Rushing to the nearest nurse, desperation fills me. “Is he okay? Why are they arresting him?”
A fellow patient, lips trembling, leans closer. “I heard he’s been involved in something criminal,” she whispers, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Those words hit me like a punch. A wave of nausea washes over me. I can’t process it. “No, he wouldn’t. Not Ethan.”
But the fear churns relentlessly. I look out again, confirming my worst nightmare: I see Ethan being arrested by military officers, and I learn from a fellow patient that he has been involved in serious criminal activity.
