"This just goes to show how irresponsible I am..." he said softly after awhile, "I mean...my son is in the hospital and I ran away! What if he dies and I'm not there. God, I wouldn't blame Madison for hating my guts."
Amy didnt know what to say, she just sat there with her arms around Ephram.
The two spoke for a little bit longer before Amy said, "since you took a cab to meet me, why dont I take you back to the hospital and you can be there for Madison and your son?"
After a second to think about it, Ephram nodded his head, "yeah, its the right thing to do." he looked at her, "I messed up so bad, I need to make it right..." and the two got up and walked towards Amy's vehicle. As much as he felt as he let everybody down, he just had to go back and set things right, he had to face what he's scared of.
Meanwhile, back at the hospital, Madison was so happy that Trenton was going to be okay that Khaki decided to take her out to see a late night movie, plus, it would get her mind off of Ephram who ditched her so suddenly. At first though, she didn't want to, she just wanted to stay with her son, what if something was to happen again? Going to a movie while her son was in the hospital didnt seem right. She figured it would be best, besides, just going home would probably make her more depressed since she'd be sitting around just thinking about him, and thinking about how angry she is at Ephram.
Andy calmed her as he told her it would be okay and that she needed to get her mind set right again. He also said, "I'll stay here in case Ephram does show up, then we'll call you and you two can work this out."
Madison went to say goodbye to her son and set off with Khaki soon afterwards. The movie the two decided to go see was a comedy, which Madison needed, and it started at 9:30pm. As they got to the theater, Madison reluctantly turned off her cell phone. "What if Andy should call? Oh my god, this was such a bad idea, what if something happens?"
Khaki tried to comfort her, "Andy knows what he's doing, doesnt he? Besides, he's a doctor himself, I dont think he would have told you to go see a movie if he felt something bad was going to happen."
"You're right...This should be good." she nodded, trying to convince herself, "We'll have fun, we need it right now." and in the back of her head she was thinking about Ephram and what he could possibly be doing while his son is in the hospital.
Amy dropped Ephram off at the ER. When he got the reception desk, he asked which room Trenton was in. Although there were no visitors allowed, they made an exception for Ephram since he was Trenton's father. As the doctor showed him to the room, he asked where Madison was. All the doctor said was, "she left with a friend of hers."
As soon as Ephram entered the room where Trenton was, and he saw all the wires his son was hooked up to, he broke down and cried. How could he have let this happen? He held his son's tiny hand, trying to hold back the tears that flooded his eyes. After a while he was able to calm himself and talk to his son as Madison had, "I'm so sorry buddy for leaving you. I promise - " he said as he choked, "I will never leave you again. You have to pull through, I need you. Your mother and I need you." and he thought to himself, 'I need your mother most of all right now, she gives me strength."
A familiar voice was heard in the doorway, "He's a tough little boy, he's going to be fine." and as soon as Ephram turned around and realized it was his father's voice, he couldn't act the way he had been doing for the last several months. He allowed his father to give him a hug, and he allowed himself to forgive his father for what he had tried to do. Hearing those words, 'he's going to fine' made Ephram cry happy tears as he hugged his father for the first time in almost a year. There was an unspoken bond that they shared right at that moment and nothing needed to be said.
He and his father decided to get a bite to eat before Andy dropped his son off at home...Madison's place. Ephram was still emotional, he couldn't eat. He just kept wondering about Madison.
"It's just..." he sighed, "I need to hold her, let her know I'm sorry. I love her so much, I want her to know that."
"I'm sure she does know that, son." Andy said with a smile.
"I know, but...I-I want, I ju-just wa-want to hold her in my arms and tell her that because I screwed up so badly tonight." he shook his head, "I wouldn't be surprised if she wanted to kill me."
"Guess it doesnt help when her phone is turned off and you left yours in Amy's car."
A couple hours later, around midnight or so, Ephram decided to have his dad drive him home.
Madison wasnt there, which made Ephram wonder. This made him sad as well because he needed her, needed to touch her face. He was still so upset when he got home, all he could do was hang around in Trenton's room. It felt so weird not having him there. It felt so empty, like a piece of Ephram was missing. After a while he decided to sit in the corner near the crib in Trenton's room and hold the large stuffed animal that had been in Trenton's crib. He noticed his son's photo album and thumbed through it slowly. Not too long afterwards, he drifted off to sleep.
After the movie, Madison drove Khaki home, stayed a while then decided to head back home herself.
As she drove home, she couldnt help but think of Ephram. She turned her cell phone back on, hoping there would be a message from him. There wasnt. But there was a message from Andy; "Sorry to call so late" the message began, "Dont worry, Ephram went to the hospital but you had left already. I know this is none of my business, but I feel as though I should say something." there was a pause, "Ephram needs you and he loves you a lot. When you see him, go easy on him"
When Madison got home she slowly made her way to Trenton's room and was surprised to see Ephram sleeping propped up against the wall, holding the large stuffed animal in his arms and the baby book beside him. She couldnt help but smile and tear up at the same time as she watched him sleep. Every negative thing she felt before this moment was completely forgotten. She slowly walked up to him, then knelt down next to him and touched his face, "Ephram" she said as her eyes glistened with tears, trying to wake him up as she touched his leg.
