Longest chapter yet! It took me while longer than i intended because i had to do some research for this chapter. ENJOY :]
It took me a while to snap out of my shock. I quickly ran out of the office and ran to my car. I could see that the people at the station were looking at me. Probably wondering why I even have this expression on my face. It didn't matter, I have to get there FAST. The hospital that Yukari mentioned was at the opposite end of the city. It takes at least 20 mins to get there not counting the traffic. It's 4 in the afternoon and the traffic usually builds up at this time since people are slowly going out of their office to return to their homes.
I had to calm down, there's no point in trying to ram at the cars in front of me. It's not going to help me get to the hospital sooner. I called Yukari and placed my phone on speaker mode so I'll at least be less distracted.
"Sempai, where are you?" that was the first thing she said in the background I could hear noises, though faint I could hear Minako. She sounded like she's in pain.
"Yukari what's happening?" I was desperate and I NEED to know what was happening
I could hear more noises and Minako sounded like she's in more pain that I've ever heard. "Minako's in labor, sempai."
Ugh… Great what should I say now? Before I could utter a response Yukari dropped the call. I tried to call her again but it seemed that she turned her phone off. I didn't think of a reason why she did it. I was too busy trying to escape the traffic. I got to the hospital in about 40 mins. The traffic was unbearable. As soon as I got there I left the car right by the entrance and ran to the information desk. The woman at the information desk looked at me. I think she was surprised why I seemed to be out of breath. I can't blame her.
"Can you tell me where Minako Sanada is held?"
She checked the hospital's records before she answered, "At Delivery Room 2,"
I ran to the direction she pointed as soon as she told me. I heard her yell something at me but I couldn't figure out what she was saying. It didn't matter. Minako's in labor and I have to be there for her. I got to the room and some nurses tried to stop me from going inside. I didn't care what kind of trouble I'd be getting myself into, I HAVE to go inside.
"Minako, just push a little more."
"That's good, just keep pushing"
"Just relax and deep breaths.."
It hurts and I'm tired. Those were the only words that went around my head. It seemed so fast that I got here. I remember saving Yukari's child, Souske, from a car that accidentally skids on the thin ice that formed on the road. I also remember seeing blood, a lot of it. Then I'm here. I can't see clearly but I do hear Yukari's voice amongst the other voices in the room. They're all telling me the same thing. It only took instinct to tell me that I'm at a hospital giving birth, that much I know. Yuki, you're definitely a trouble maker.
"Sempai?" It defiantly came from Yukari. Who's she referring to? I tried to look around and spot a blurry image of a man he had silver hair.
"The baby is out!" Odd, isn't the baby supposed to cry when he's out? Maybe he's just as tired as I am.
The images in front of me become more blurry and they seem to be looking at me. They're saying something but I really can't make up what they were saying. I'm tired.
The next thing I knew was that I'm in a room, probably at the hospital. I didn't notice it but somebody was holding my hand. I tried to lift my head to see who it was. It was Aki. He looked tired and it also looked as if he just came from his office. He still wore his uniform. I tilted my head a little more to the left and saw Yukari with Souske. It didn't take a more than seconds for her to notice I was awake.
"Minako, you're awake." She approached me. She sounded relieved.
"Yukari, what happened?"
"Well, you collapsed after giving birth." I could see in her eyes that she wanted to tell me something. I don't know what though but I have this bad feeling. Before I could ask I heard mumble sounds. It came from Akihiko. He's waking up. "oh, Sempai you're awake."
We both locked into each other's eyes. Somehow, that 'bad feeling' temporarily didn't seem so bad after all. "Good Morning." I greeted him. Trying to guess what time of the day it is.
"It's afternoon." He corrected me. "Well at least you're awake now."
"Huh? How long was I asleep?"
"Probably around 18 hours." Yukari answered "Anyway, now that you're awake. Do you mind if I'll be leaving now? Souske's itching to go home."
"No, I'm alright Yukari. Thanks for everything."
"No, I have to thank you for saving my son." She grabbed her son's arm "well I'll be going now. I'll see you." and went out of the room before taking a quick look at Akihiko.
The look Yukari gave Akihiko, for some reason, seemed very uncomfortable. Aki seemed to have caught up on what I was thinking but it seems like he didn't want to start the topic. I, also don't want to start the topic but I have to. I can't stand not seeing what's happening anymore. But how am I suppose to ask? 'where's our son?' 'how's Yuki?' Instinct told me that I wouldn't like the answer but I had to ask. "Where's Yuki? How is he?"
He stood silent. His silence only slightly confirmed my worry. He let go of my hand and walked to the door "I think I'd be better if the doctor we're to explain what's happening." He said before opening the door to leave and call the doctor.
"Please Aki, I don't want to be kept in the dark any longer. What happened to our son?" I just wanted to know what was happening even if it meant confirming my worries.
"He's born with an abnormality and he's currently in the ICU." He then left the room probably sensing the need to leave me alone to understand what those words meant.
No amount of time can make a mother calm after knowing that her newborn son is in danger. To love someone whom you've always been together with and to lose him just when you can finally touch him—this was the worst feeling I've ever encountered in my life. It's different with Ryouji or Shinjiro even Akihiko, when I thought I'd lost him forever when I decided to become the great seal. The kind of love and sadness I feel can only come from my son.
Akihiko suddenly returned to the room with a man in a white coat. He's probably the doctor. "Doctor what is going on with my son?" I asked him to understand the situation more.
"Miss Sanada…your child is diagnosed with Congenital Heart Disease more specifically Hypoplastic left heart syndrome. It's when the left side of the baby's heart is under developed causing difficulty in pumping blood adequately throughout the body. Currently your child is under a ventilator to temporarily assist him in his breathing and IV fluids to help the heart beat stronger."
"So will he be fine?" Akihiko asked the doctor, trying to be optimistic.
"Sadly no. the ventilator and IV fluids are only meant to assist him temporarily. His heart condition is rapidly deteriorating and he's in need of a transplant."
"Will my heart do?" I could see that Akihiko was surprised at my proposal. I just wanted to save my son and give him a chance at life, he deserves it.
"No, your blood isn't compatible with his and even if it was an adult heart is too strenuous for a new born child. We're currently waiting for a heart."
"Doctor, how long will he last without the transplant?" I asked again
"At best about 24 more hours assuming if his condition doesn't change."
"How long will he be able to get a heart?"
"It's hard to tell. Apparently there are no available hearts that are compatible with him for the moment."
"Then what are we suppose to do? Just wait and hope that you we're wrong?"
"Yes. That is the only thing we can all do right now."
"Doctor, can I at least see my son?" The doctor studied my condition and probably to check if I'm strong enough to go out of the room.
"Alright, I'll call the nurse to get you a wheel chair. She'll take you to your son."
He got out of the room to call the nurse. Both of us we're quiet. Neither of us really wanted to talk. I just can't believe that this is all happening. It's… just too fast.
"Minako…" That was all Aki could say. He… both of us really didn't know what to do.
The nurse came with a wheel chair and we were on our way to Yuki and left us as soon as we got there. We weren't permitted to go inside the room, despite our pleas. So we had to watch Yuki through a glass window. He was strapped in machines and tubes were all over him. He was very pale and he hardly moved but he looked so peaceful, almost as if he was just sleeping. At least he looked like he wasn't in pain that relieved me a little. Still the thought that this is probably the last time I'll be able to see him alive…I wondered whether I could take seeing him in that condition. No mother would want that but I had to see him.
I smiled at little Yuki. I tried to erase the fact that I can't really touch him and the fact that there were tubs and machines everywhere around him. "He looks a lot like you, Aki." This is all I can do.
Suddenly, Yuki opened his eyes ever so slightly. He was looking at me. "Y-yuki?" I almost broke in tears seeing his face like that. "Yuki…Don't worry. Mommy will be right here, alright? So…So stay strong for me. Please… Yuki…"
As promised, I stayed there with Aki, my eyes constantly on my son. It was a while after the nurse came back and told us to go back to our room. Visiting hours was over. I reluctantly agreed and returned to my hospital bed.
That night, I had a dream—a very faint one. There was a little child. I couldn't tell if it was a boy or a girl but I assumed that it was Yuki. He had silver hair. I heard my cell phone ringing inside my bag and scoured my bag to look for it. When I did, there wasn't anything on my phone—no missed call, no message, nothing. When I looked back at the child he wasn't there anymore instead a blurry figure was placed where that child was. I couldn't tell much of the details but it almost looked like a grave. My heart felt heavy. I think I got what that dream was trying to tell me. It seemed too obvious, that trying to not believe it I was just clinging at false hope. It happened but I'm not sure how I'm going to live my life now.
When I woke up, Akihiko was talking to the doctor. I couldn't hear what they were saying clearly. They noticed I was awake and the doctor, to the best of his ability, told me the news. Yuki passed away an hour ago. No heart came and his condition worsened while his body waited. Oddly, I wasn't surprised but… hearing the news from the doctor, the pain seemed worse. Before I knew it, the pain was too overwhelming that that only thing I can do that that point was just cry and hope that eases the pain. I cried for hours, Aki simply said nothing and hugged me until I was quiet.
Life is cruel and unfair. Yuki was hardly walked or spoke not even a cry. He was innocent and still new to this world. Why did he have to be taken so quickly? Why couldn't he stay here any longer and grow up as a normal child? Why out of all of the babies born in this world he had to be the one to lose his life only days after his birth? Why out of the many times that there had to be shortage of hearts from children it had to be now? Why did life had to line up all of the circumstances just to get him killed? If I was the one at fault, why wasn't I the one punished? Or is this my punishment-to live everyday in agony at the thought of my son's death?
More drama in the next chapter!
