( 5:47pm )
(5:47 PM – The Car Ride)
The car glided down the road, silent except for the hum of the engine. The city lights flickered past, casting fleeting shadows across Paul's face.
Jack broke the quiet, his voice cutting through the stillness. "You've been awfully quiet since we left the morgue. Something on your mind?"
Paul exhaled slowly, his eyes distant. "Just… thinking."
"Thinking about the corpse?" Jack asked, trying to sound casual, but the unease in his tone betrayed him. "I won't lie—I was staring at it, and… God, the face. I nearly threw up."
Paul's lips twitched in a faint smile. "Your wife… she's really good at her job."
Jack's brow rose. "Of course she is. That's why I married her," Paul added, almost reflexively, a soft sincerity behind his words.
"She must know a lot… about everything," Jack chuckled lightly.
"She does. Everything except socializing. That's why she has no friends," Paul replied casually, as if deflecting the thought.
Jack leaned back, sighing. "Speaking of socializing… I happen to know a few girls who wouldn't mind meeting you."
"No need," Paul said, his tone firm, shutting the idea down. Jack's frown deepened.
"Come on, man. You live and breathe your job. But a job is a job. Life—real life—happens outside the office," Jack said, his voice teasing yet pointed.
Paul didn't reply. The silence stretched, thick and heavy, until his phone rang. The sharp trill startled them both.
"Hello?" Paul answered, but the call cut off immediately.
Jack leaned closer. "Who was that? Check the contact."
Paul's fingers moved over the screen, but the number was gone—vanished, as if it had never existed.
"That's… weird," he muttered under his breath, a faint crease forming between his brows.
Jack glanced at him, curiosity mixed with concern. "Was it the chief?"
Paul shook his head, firm and controlled. "No one."
A chill lingered in the car despite the warmth inside. Paul turned on the radio to drown the tension, and More of You hummed softly, filling the empty space with melody—but not easing the unease.
For a moment, neither spoke. Outside, the road twisted into shadows, the night pressing in as if holding its breath. Paul's hand tightened slightly on the steering wheel. Something had changed. Something was off.
Jack, sensing it, decided not to push. Yet his eyes never left Paul, silently wondering who—or what—had called.
(The Hospital – 🌹 The Ward 🌹)
The loud hurried footsteps of nurses and doctors, along with the sounds of patients, filled the ward, but Moses barely noticed, his gaze fixed on the door, different from the warmth he usually gave his wife.
He sighed softly, holding his wife's arm and feeling the warmth from it.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he whispered, placing his right hand on her stomach, wanting to feel the heartbeat of their unborn child. But all he felt was warmth, which softened his eyes. He held her hands again, worried for both mother and child.
"Husband!"
The hoarse but tired voice caught her attention. Facing her confused stare, Moses quickly pressed the emergency button below the bed before turning back with a relieved smile.
"Where am I?" she asked weakly, glancing around before noticing the drip, which answered her question.
"And Barnabas?" she asked, genuinely worried.
"Don't worry. I sent him back with Dad," he replied, helping her move the strands of hair from her face. His eyes were moist, but his smile remained soft.
"And my…?"
She whispered, her eyes widening in realization as her free hand rested on the drip, ignoring her pain.
"Both you and the baby are fine," Moses answered simply, a bit sad to notice her relieved smile.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
He asked again, which caught Anita off guard. Her eyes fell on both their hands, feeling a sense of comfort and warmth she had missed.
"I didn't want to worry you. You were busy as it is," she replied truthfully, glancing at the cast on her husband's arm, which made her panic a little.
"Are you hurt?" she asked, eyes on the cast.
Moses chuckled, placing a kiss on her forehead, which caught her attention.
"I fell and got hurt. Nothing to worry about," he replied simply, sitting on the edge of the bed with a deeper smile.
"You're with child, so don't act careless next time. If you need help, just call me, okay?" he advised, making Anita frown.
"I'm not that busy," she assured him, though at that moment, the sound of the door opening caught Moses' attention.
"Doctor!" Moses said, adjusting his stance as he glared at the doctor and the assistant nurse by her side.
"Doctor, please check," he added, stepping aside for both to examine Anita, who nervously squeezed Moses' hand.
"How are you feeling?" the doctor asked, adjusting her glasses as she monitored the beeping lines of the machine.
"Tired but good," she replied truthfully with a small smile, watching the doctor move closer to check her heartbeat and other vitals.
"Any pains or discomfort?" the doctor asked further, only for Anita to shake her head, still staring at the doctor as she checked the drip and her pulse.
"I'm feeling much better now. I think it's alright for me to be discharged," Anita assured her, but the doctor shook her head seriously.
"Even though you are out of immediate danger, it's important to stay here for observation," she said, writing notes and passing them to the nurse, who stepped out silently.
"But I don't need observation. I'm healthy," Anita argued, only to be ignored.
"Your condition isn't fully stable due to the excess blood loss during surgery. We also discovered your blood pressure is slightly high, which could be dangerous for both you and the baby. That's why rest is essential," the doctor explained, and then walked out.
"Moses, I can't stay here like this," she complained, exhausted, letting go of her husband's hand.
"You heard the doctor. Rest is important so both you and the baby can be healthy," Moses coaxed gently.
"Fine, I'll call Juliet to come over, then we can discuss," she murmured heavily, realizing her phone wasn't with her.
"Where's my phone?" she asked aloud, but Moses reassured her.
"No need to worry. I'm quite sure it's with Barnabas. I'll also inform the school head about your situation tomorrow," he said, adjusting her blanket and holding her hand again.
"You know the director?" Anita asked, surprised.
"He was one of my clients two years ago. I'm quite sure he won't mind if you take some time off," Moses assured her.
"You should remember that you're not alone now. There's a little life growing inside of you, so you shouldn't be careless," he added with a small, encouraging smile. Anita subconsciously placed her free hand on her tummy and nodded.
"I understand," she whispered.