The sunlight, pale and hesitant, filtered through Dave's bedroom blinds, painting thin stripes across the wall. He stirred, his body heavy, his mind refusing to fully shed the weight of sleep. But the moment his consciousness truly cleared, the agonizing reality of yesterday slammed into him. Katy. The hospital. The blood. The pregnancy.
He pushed himself up, every muscle protesting. Sleep had offered little true rest, only a brief, shallow escape from the torrent of questions and fears. Who was the father? How could this have happened? His little girl, so quiet, so studious... He rubbed his face, the stubble rough beneath his palm. The devastation he felt was still raw, but beneath it, a steely resolve began to form. He needed to be there for her. He needed answers.
Dressing quickly, his movements stiff, he grabbed his keys and wallet. The drive to the hospital was a blur of familiar streets, now bathed in the muted light of morning. The dread was a cold knot in his stomach, but the urgency to see Katy propelled him forward.
The hospital waiting room was slightly busier now, a few more faces scattered in the chairs, but the pervasive quiet of early morning still held sway. He approached the main desk, his heart hammering, and quietly inquired about Katy Anderson. The nurse, a different one from the night before, offered a sympathetic smile and confirmed Katy was stable.
He walked down the familiar corridor, each step a testament to the heavy burden he carried. He paused outside her door, taking a deep, fortifying breath before pushing it open.
Katy was still asleep, her face pale against the pristine white pillow. The rhythmic of the beeping machines was a comforting sound now, a sign of her continued stability. The I.V. lines still connected her to bags of fluid, and the monitors glowed with steady numbers. She looked so fragile, so small in the vast hospital bed.
Dave pulled the chair closer, settling down beside her. He gently took her hand, his thumb stroking her knuckles. His gaze swept over her, taking in the faint rise of her abdomen beneath the blanket. Renewed worry, overwhelming love, and a fierce, unspoken determination filled him. He would get through this. For Katy. For his pregnant daughter, who was clearly in a world of trouble he barely understood.