The Soldier Next Door

To say that I have not died a million deaths for the past few minutes would be a slight understatement. Not only did I have the fear that Ana got seriously hurt, but now I have the fear that something has happened to our unborn child.

But as I stand here, it appears that Ana is unharmed, though much to my very frustration, there is something else that is going on, and these two smiling faces are not telling me what is going on.

Well, my restraint is thin, and I am about to snap if one of these two does not speak this instant. Though it does not like that is going to happen.

That relief that I felt only but a moment ago has now turned into fear that there is something more that is going on. I can simply not bear if something has happened to the baby, for I will be the one that will be directly blamed for that.

So ya…

Ana is not acting herself.

And next to her is a useless Doctor that is acting even weirder.

Well, if one of them does not tell me what is going on, I might just lose all the restraint that I have left.

Now Ana seems far more nervous than what she looks scared, so I am going to guess here that it is not as bad as I think it is. But this woman is known to put up a very convincing face, so you have no idea what she is thinking.

So getting slightly mad, “Boo, what are you not telling me?”

“Soldier, well, I…”

Ya, then she burst out in tears, and I am left looking like the asshole. But yet, this Doctor is just standing there finding this all rather amusing, perhaps, “Do I need to remind you who has the fucking gun here.”

I watch as he steps back into the far corner where I cannot reach. Well, the man is dumb, for I don’t need him close to me to blow his brains out.

Then finally, after swallowing a few deep breaths, he turns to Ana, “Mrs. Hunter, do you want me to discuss the, well, you know… Do you wish for me to discuss it with your husband?”

She does not afford the Doctor another single word, for her voice echoes to the corners of the room, “No!”

“Well, best you get it on, for I do have other patients.”

I only but cock my head and look at him confused, “Are you just going to leave her like it here. What if she fucking dies?”

“Mr. Hunter, trust me, your wife is not going to die. Perhaps you.”

Ya, and that is me.

That little restraint that was left…snaps.

“Can someone tell me what is going on?”

Ana is sitting in dead silence. She is looking at me while I am arguing with the Doctor. With each word, she cries even louder than before. She is starting to make me worry.

“Give her something. Can you not see she is in pain?”

“Mr. Hunter, your wife is not in pain either. She just has…a slight hormonal problem.”

“What?” I snap at him. “You are not going to fucking stand there and insult my wife.”

Then Ana jumps in for the first time since her crying spell, “Soldier…”

But before she can even speak, I find myself right in front of the Doctor that has grown rather nervous just standing so close to me, yet still, “Now, this is the last time that I am going to ask the both of you what is going on.”

From the left side, I feel the very flat of Ana’s hand make contact with the back of my head. Then she softly speaks under her voice, “I am really fine, Ethan.”

The Doctor is just standing there with some godawful smirk on his face.

Something is obviously going on that I have completely missed.

I turn back to the Doctor. “Please run some more tests on her; there must be something wrong.”

“There is no need, soldier.” Ana slightly squeezes my hand. “I am perfectly fine.”

“Boo, please, I insist, let the Doctor do some more tests. Please, do it for me. I need to hear that you are okay.”

The Doctor, who is now just getting a little more slightly annoyed than me, rumbles with a firm voice, “Mr. Hunter, I know how to do my job, and when I tell you that your wife is fine, then she is fine.”

I look suspiciously at him. “Do you want me to show you how to do your job even better than you are doing it now?”

“Mr. Hunter, I feel sorry for this woman that married you.”

Ya, that is me.

I grip hold of my gun and firmly hold it in place at my back, “Now, do you want to repeat that again?”

“Ethan!”

I turn my head to Ana that is giving me such a fateful look that I swear I have just died. So very slowly, I let go of my gun. The Doctor is standing there somewhat trembling with eyes focussed on Ana that is begging.

And mine is begging even more, “Boo, please, tell me what is wrong. Please let me help you. Has something happened to the baby?”

“Ethan, do you trust me?”

“Of course, I do?”

“And you love me?”

“You know more than anything.”

I pull her into my embrace, and she snuggles into the crevices of my muscled chest. I feel her press into every ounce that is me. I wrap my arms around her in a soft cocoon. I know as she gets lost in the warmth that she feels protected.

“Oh, soldier,” her voice is calm as she speaks again. “You are the only person that I know that gives indefinite hugs.”

“Where else would I rather be boo than herewith you?”

“I love you, soldier.”

“And I love you to infinity and beyond.”

Her breathing starts to slow, and I can feel her melt into me; every muscle in her body begins to relax. Just for this moment, just for now, I know that she truly is okay. She stays locked in my arms for another few minutes and slowly pulls away

She links her fingers into mine; I feel the slight tremble in her hands as she grips onto mine tightly. I give her a soft kiss on her temple. The nervous tension is undeniable. I truly wish she would tell me what the matter is. It breaks my heart that she feels she cannot confide in me.

Just to think that there is something wrong and I can do nothing about it. What seems like forever is actually only a few minutes; the Doctor finds his voice again, “Ana, would you like me to tell him.”

“No, Doctor, I will.” She fiddles with her fingers and stutters as she is trying to find her voice.

“For god’s sake, Ana,” my final restraint snaps. “What the fuck is going on? You are making me scared.”

“Well,” as she starts again, that Doctor starts smiling even more. Then she continues, “Soldier, the thing is…”

“The thing is what, boo?”

Ya, and that is me!

“Soldier,” I watch as the smile grows around her face as she looks at someone that is entering the room. Then she looks back at me again. “Soldier, meet your son.”

“My what?”

As my voice echoes past the corridors, the room goes dark, and I drop to the floor.

When I flutter my eyes open after what seems like an hour, I have a very worried nurse hovering over me with Ana standing next to her. Next to Ana, there is another nurse that is urging Ana to get back into bed.

But the woman is having none of it.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

The moment her eyes meet mine, I can see that beautiful smile that I love grow around the corners of her face. Then much to the irritation of the nurse, she comes kneeling down next to me. With nothing but that smile that keeps growing on her face, she takes my hand into hers and looks over to the side of her bed.

Yet, I cannot see what she and this goddamn Doctor is still smiling at.

Then she places a towel under my head and brings her lips closer to my ears. She softly whispers, “Do you want to come and meet your son?”

“But boo…” I lay my hand gently on her tummy…

And I fucking die.

The world turns into a black hole, and it feels as if I am sucked in with the thoughts consuming my mind that Ana has lost the baby and it is all my fault. But then she looks at me and softly speaks once again, “Do you think that you can stand up.”

So with legs that are betraying me spectacularly at this very moment in time, I rise to stand. Then she takes me to the corner of the room where she has been glancing to.

And as I step closer…