She lay completely still on the cold stone floor, her body limp and unresponsive. Beside her, the twins sobbed uncontrollably, their cries filled with terror. Jonathan didn’t hesitate.
He scooped Emily up carefully and rushed toward the car as the children followed, crying and asking if she was going to be okay. He didn’t answer. He had no idea what to say. He opened the back door and eased her onto the seat.
Her skin was pale and clammy, her breathing shallow but steady. He pulled off his suit jacket and slid it beneath her head. The twins climbed in after her, still crying, and Jonathan started the engine and drove off at full speed.
He headed straight for the nearest hospital. The drive felt endless. Every few seconds, he checked the rearview mirror to make sure Emily was still breathing. His hands trembled on the steering wheel, sweat pouring down his face despite the air conditioning.
The children leaned forward from the back seat, eyes swollen and red. One of them, a little girl, whispered through tears, “Daddy… is Aunt Emily going to die?”
His chest tightened painfully.