Zareal reached for the door handle, her fingers closing around the cool metal.
She took in a breath, just one as she steadied herself. Then she pushed the door open and stepped out into the night.
The hospital entrance stood ahead, the glass doors glowing under bright lights. Zareal moved toward them, her cane striking the pavement with each step. Nadine followed behind, her footsteps quiet but present. while the driver remained by the car.
The doors slid open automatically as she approached. Fluorescent light spilled out, harsh and clinical. as she stepped through into the emergency department.
The waiting room was crowded, people occupied every available seat. A child cried in the corner while his mother rocked him.
An elderly man pressed a cloth to his bleeding hand, The TV mounted on the wall played news with the volume too low to hear.
This was a public hospital, Mercy General. The closest emergency facility to Union Street. Not the private care the Sterlings usually demanded, but accidents didn't wait for arrangements.
Zareal moved toward the reception desk where a nurse sat, typing something on her computer.
Immediately, she looked up as Zareal approached, and her eyes widened slightly.
The nurse's gaze now traveling over Zareal's appearance. The formal gown and ivory silk now wrinkled and smudged with road dust.
The elaborate updo that had started to come loose, hair strands falling around her face. The exhaustion etched into every line of her features.
Recognition flickered across the nurse's face. Not just recognition of who Zareal was, but understanding of what she was seeing.
"Mrs. Sterling." The nurse's voice carried a note of surprise, as she set down her hands from the keyboard, her attention fully on Zareal now.
Of course she knew, everyone in eveshore knew about the anniversary ceremony tonight. The Sterling vow renewal had been mentioned in the society pages for weeks, because vespera had made sure of that.
The nurse's eyes moved from the gown to Zareal's face now, then back again. Her expression shifted, something clicking into place.
"I'm here for my husband," Zareal said, her voice steady despite the tightness in her chest. "Ranulf Sterling. He was brought in from a car accident."
The nurse's lips parted slightly, her fingers now hovering and then moving across the keyboard once more.
Her expression now shifting, something soft and sympathetic crossing her face.
"of all nights for Mr. Sterling to be brought in from an accident, it had to be tonight. such misfortune for a young bride".... The nurse thought inwardly as she glanced quickly at zareal while still keeping her head low.
"He's in room 3, emergency department" she said after a moment. Her voice soft. "Through those doors," she said, pointing towards an area in the room. "take a left turn down the corridor."
"Is he badly hurt?" Zareal almost interrupted.
The nurse hesitated as her eyes met Zareal's,
"The doctor will be able to give you specifics," the nurse said carefully. "although he was conscious when they brought him in"
"Conscious" Not the worst news, but not enough detail to ease the knot in Zareal's stomach.
The nurse glanced at her computer screen again, then back at Zareal. "Room 3," she repeated, gentler this time. "They should still be with him."
Zareal nodded. "Thank you" she said quietly before turning to leave, "you welcome" the nurse replied as she watched zareal move with careful steps towards the door.
The anniversary that seemed to have never happened, the husband in an accident, and the wife arriving alone, still dressed in formal wear.
How unfortunate.
She let out a sigh as she turned back to her computer, but her fingers were now stilled on the keyboard.
She probably would tell the other staff later, when her shift ended.
Room 3 was halfway down, and the door stood partially open.
Nadine still behind her, without uttering a single word. It was like an art she had mastered, never to interrupt anything anyone who was bearing "sterling" did.
Zareal stopped just outside, her hand reaching for the frame. she could hear movement inside, the rustle of fabric, and the soft beep of a heart monitor.
And then she pushed the door wider and stepped through.
The room was small and clinical. A hospital bed sat near the window, with medical equipment surrounding it and monitors displayed vitals in steady rhythmic lines.
Zareal scanned through the room efficiently. and then instantly, her eyes dropped dead.
There he was, ranulf. who stood near the bed.
His shirt was torn at the shoulder, the fabric hanging loose, unbuttoned halfway down to reveal the defined lines of his chest and the sharp cut of his collarbone.
His jawline and face card remained sharp even as exhaustion settled across his features, the angles of his face somehow more pronounced under the harsh hospital lights.
A bandage covered the right side of his forehead, his tie was gone, and his hair disheveled in a way she had never seen.
But he was whole, alive and standing, relief crashed through her so suddenly it made her go dizzy.
He looked up as she entered. surprise flickering across his face, then settling into something more guarded.
"Zareal." His husky voice came out flat. "What are you doing here?"... He recklessly blurted out.
The question hung between them. she stood near the doorway, her grip suddenly tightening on her cane.
The distance between them felt vast immediately.
"what am I doing here? I literally just saw your car," she said, her voice came out quieter than she intended. "The police said you were transported, and I was worried you were hurt."... The words came out odd and unfamiliar, but sincerely, she actually meant them.
"I'm fine." He gestured vaguely at the bandage. "Minor injuries."... He said very non-challantly.
Minor injuries, the words should have brought more relief. Instead, they just sat there, factual and empty.
Zareal took a step closer, then another. Her cane tapped against the tile floor, the sound seeming too loud in the quiet room.
"The ceremony," she said. "You didn't come because of this."
It wasn't a question, just a statement. but ranulf's reaction seemed like she should have just kept to herself rather than saying it out loud.
His jaw now tightening slightly.