The ambulance arrived within 15 minutes. Rachel was moved onto a stretcher and carried down the stairs by the paramedics. Eddie followed behind them.
Hundreds of pupils were crowded around the ambulance, looking on at their Head Teacher in concern, whispering to one another. Eddie pushed passed them, following Rachel into the ambulance.
He sat down in the chair opposite Rachel. She turned her head toward him slowly, her eyes filled with tears as she reached out her hand for him. He smiled weakly at her, taking her hand. He desperately wanted to reassure her that everything would be ok. But the truth was, he didn't know if it would be.
They drove to the hospital in silence, Rachel drifting in and out of consciousness.
When they arrived at the hospital 10 minutes later, Rachel was taken away to have scans and tests. Eddie was left in the waiting room. He paced up and down nervously.
He couldn't believe this was happening.
Rachel was pregnant. It should have been the happiest day of their lives. And yet, it had turned into one of the saddest.
It all made sense to him now. She'd been so unwell the last few weeks, with nausea, headaches and dizzy spells. He'd thought there was something really wrong with her. All this time, she'd been pregnant and they hadn't known. They'd only found out when it was too late.
He'd never forget the heartbroken look on Rachel's face when she'd handed him that pregnancy test. It had nearly crushed him.
They had been trying for a baby for the last couple of months. As far as they were aware, it hadn't been successful. But this whole time, it had been. Somewhat anyway.
He couldn't deny it, he was heartbroken. It took him back to the day he'd lost Stephen, his little boy. Of course Stephen had been alive for six months before he'd passed away, Eddie had bonded with him and loved him. He hadn't even known about this baby. And yet it still hurt, knowing another opportunity to become a father was gone. He'd failed Stephen, and now this baby.
He dreaded to think how Rachel was feeling. Losing a child, no matter their age, was painful enough. But to not know they were there in the first place, growing inside you? That was something else. To lose something you never knew you had, but desperately wanted.
He knew it would take a while for her to recover from this. Physically and emotionally. She would need him, even if she pretended she didn't. And he was going to be there for her, no matter what.