Very short. I’m thinking of combining this with chapter three, but then I’d lose this great cliffhanger! Oh, well.

Chapter Four

The room was arranged in such a way that Adam saw Eve immediately. He almost died at the sight of her. Whoever the interior decorator was, he thought darkly, they must have a sick sense of humor. He saw Mrs. Hunt asleep, albeit restlessly, in a chair. Eve was a small lump in the sheets, pale and deathly still. He had not wanted to believe anything was terribly wrong when Mick had told him. He had not wanted to believe anything horrible had happened when he saw Eve’s father, tired, eyes bloodshot (from crying? No! He never cried...), and defeated. He had not wanted to believe, even when the kindly doctor had explained to him the extent of her injuries. But somewhere, in the back of his mind, he knew. And the sight of Eve merely confirmed his fears. As if sensing him, Eve slowly and painfully turned her head.

“Adam?” It was a croak, barely resembling her beautiful voice. He walked slowly over, stepping over wires and whatnot, and dragged up a chair to her left side. He sat down and grasped her hand in his. It was cold.

“Eve...” he whispered, and suddenly the dam broke. He began weeping for all the stress he had felt in the past hour. He began crying, really crying, though, for her. He couldn’t even think of what she had been through, how much pain she had felt and was feeling now, physically and emotionally.

“Adam,” she murmured soothingly, and smoothed his hair back from his forehead. This only served to make him feel worse: even in her time of need she saw fit to comfort others!

I fell in love with an angel.

***

Adam woke up to a high-pitched beeping sound and doctors and nurses rushing into the room. His eyes widened and he backed away, taking the chair with him so as not to disturb the process. He could see Eve’s parents standing outside the circle of doctors, and Mrs. Hunt was sobbing freely, while Mr. Hunt looked like he was holding back his tears. His thoughts began to race. They unplugged her! She fell into a coma and they unplugged her! His rational mind interrupted. Just how long do you think you’ve been asleep, idiot? They didn’t unplug her. This did little to comfort him. Adam began panicking. She’s dying, she’s dying! He looked around wildly and ran out the door. Eve’s parents barely noticed him.

Adam began crying as he ran, silent tears running down his face. He was so distracted he didn’t even bother to stop for the elevator. He ran swiftly up the stairs. Third floor, fourth floor, fifth floor... He stopped to take a breath and looked around for the exit. Roof. He burst out the door and ran to the edge, looking around. The morning was just beginning to wear off, but storm clouds had gathered overhead and it was quite cool. He stood there quite awhile, the cold wind drying his tears. It calmed him. He walked back a few steps, staring at the endless buildings and streets and people having normal lives.

Then he ran as fast as he could and vaulted over the edge.

At least I can try to meet that angel in heaven.

***

A few hours later, Eve woke up suddenly. She struggled to sit up amidst the tubes and wires and casts and things attached to her. She winced. Ow... She looked around as her parents rushed over to her.

“You gave us quite a scare, lovely,” He mother said tearfully. Eve tried to give them both a one armed hug, then she pulled back.

“Mama, Daddy, where’s Adam?”