Marcus noticed.
“What?”
She smiled weakly.
“She’s moving.”
He placed his hand against Elena’s belly.
A tiny kick pressed against his palm.
Marcus smiled despite everything.
“Hey, Sofia.”
Another kick.
He laughed softly.
“She’s already taking sides.”
Elena laughed through her tears.
It was the first genuine laugh he’d heard from her all evening.
Marcus stayed beside her until she fell asleep.
Then he quietly left the room.
He called the hospital.
The nurse listened carefully as he explained what had happened.
Because Elena had been prescribed medication for pregnancy-related high blood pressure, they didn’t want her simply waiting until Monday.
The nurse told him to bring Elena in for evaluation and said the doctor could determine the safest way to replace the medication.
Marcus looked at his sleeping wife.
He made the decision immediately.
He woke her gently.
“We’re going to the hospital.”
She looked frightened.
“Is something wrong?”
“I don’t know.”
He took her hand.
“And that’s exactly why we’re going.”
They spent several hours at the hospital.
Her blood pressure was checked repeatedly.
The doctor asked questions.
They explained that her medication had been accidentally discarded.
The doctor arranged an appropriate replacement and gave them instructions about what symptoms required immediate attention.
Thankfully, there was no emergency.
Sofia was moving normally.
Elena was stable.
But the doctor looked directly at Marcus before they left.
“Make sure she rests.”
Marcus nodded.
“I will.”
“And make sure she isn’t doing more than she should.”
Marcus glanced at Elena.
“She won’t be.”
For the first time that night, he felt like he could breathe.
When they returned home, the house was almost silent.
Most of the family had already gone to bed.
Marcus helped Elena into their bedroom.
Then he went downstairs.
The dishes were still in the sink.
He looked at them.
He smiled faintly.
Then he walked past them.
He didn’t wash a single one.
At 6:00 AM, Marcus woke.
Elena was sleeping peacefully.
He made coffee.
Then he walked into the living room.
His mother was sitting alone.
She looked exhausted.
A suitcase stood beside her.
She looked at him.
“How is she?”
“Stable.”
His mother nodded.
“I’m sorry.”
Marcus didn’t answer immediately.
She looked down.
“I really thought the medicine was old.”
