The Path Back To You

Sophia's scream echoed through the night as her car swerved off the road, she lost control of the wheel, causing a slight turn on the steering thereby changing the car's trajectory, the car came to a halt after bashing into a street lamp.

The airbag popped out immediately, she quickly opened the front door, rushing to the passenger's seat where her daughter Emily was, belted in her seat but lay in an unconscious state, panics sets in, Sophia's world spun as she gazed at her little princess helplessly.

"Emily!" she yelled out, "No, please!" she sobbed, tears rolling down her cheek as she struggled to free her daughter from being locked in by the seatbelt, her hands trembled as she lifted her, sprinting through the night, Emily's body on her shoulder while pacing down the lone path, the accident was still a blur, she ran as fast and as far as her legs could take her as it was a lonely road and there was no cabs nearby.

She focused on getting Emily to the hospital, "Please hold on my sweet angel", she whispered with a shaking voice when suddenly she heard a sharp squeal of tires followed by the loud horn, she turned back to the bright beam of light, she was in the middle of the road subconsciously, the car came to a complete halt right in front of her.

She rushed to the window, winding down was a man with brown, slicked-back hair, revealing a prominent forehead, dressed in a black suit, the driver's piercing eyes locked onto hers as he looked at her with an astonishing gaze, "Please help me," she pleaded, urgency in her voice, "please, my daughter is dying!" she wallowed, "we need to get her to the hospital", she added.

He nodded his head in affirmation for her to hop in, they screeched to a halt outside the hospital gate, the well-known Grandview Medical Center, medical staff rushed to assist as they rolled out a gurney, Sophia opened the doors quickly.

"Help her! She's...she's my daughter," Sophia begged, nurses swooped in, taking Emily from Sophia's arm and placing her on the gurney, "stay with me baby," Sophia whispered with a teary eye in a completely broken state, the medical team whisked Emily away, leaving Sophia in a daze.

"Please follow me", a nurse instructed Sophia, Sophia trailed behind her, her heart racing. "Ma'am, what happened?" The nurse asked as Emily was being transferred to the emergency room, Sophia's eyes welled up. "We got involved in a car accident", she said in a completely distorted state. "Wait here" the nurse urged her as she pointed to the waiting room just outside the emergency room, Sophia sat with an uneasy mind, wondering what could possibly happen.

A few minutes later, Dr. Everett, a middle-aged physician with a kind face, greeted Sophia. "Hello, I'm Dr. Everett," you must be the mother of the child," she concluded, "yes I am," Sophia responded in affirmation. "be rest assured, we'll do everything possible for your child," she said as she handed her a card to fill in the correct details of her child's information for immediate admission into the hospital, Sohpia nodded, trying to process.

"Her vitals?" she asked in response, "Stable, but we need to run more tests," Dr. Everett replied, Sophia's anxiety lingered, "can I see her?", she asked, "shortly," Dr. Everett assured her as she strode towards the emergency room, Sophia paced outside the emergency room, her mind racing, lost in thoughts, still dumbfounded by the whole incident.

Shortly afterward, the driver joined her in the wait, "you're doing good" he said softly. "Oh, you're still here" she replied with a slight shock, "yes, I wanted to make sure she's okay before I take my leave," he said. Sophia's mix of emotions resurfaced, "but I don't even know you, thanks so much for your kind gestures," she said with a little smirk on her face, "name's Sophia, what may I call you?", "you can call me Jaden," he responded.

Minutes later, the ER door opened and Dr Everett approached them, "Emily's scan results are in" Dr. Everett said. Sophia's curiosity spiked, "what are the results?" She inquired, "She's going to be okay. The concussion and broken ribs will require a lot of rest, but she'll make a full recovery," Dr Everett smiled reassuringly as she handed over a clipboard with Emily's test results.

Sophia's eyes scanned the pages, everything looked good, relief washing over her, Jaden stepped closer, his gaze flicking to the clipboard, Sophia didn't notice as Jaden's eyes locked onto the page, "Emily Blackwood," he whispered, his voice barely audible. Sophia looked up, startled. "Jaden, what's wrong?" She asked, "Nothing, just glad to see Emily's okay," Jaden's expression smoothed.

His expression unreadable. "It's time for me to take my leave," he said, his expression softening, "thank you," she said sincerely, "for everything" she added, Jaden's gaze lingered on hers, "you're welcome," he replied. "Take care of Emily," he added. She responded with a nod, Jaden turned and disappeared into the hospital corridors.

Sophia felt a wave of gratitude wash over her, Jaden's timely intervention had saved her daughter, she took a deep breath, feeling blessed. "Thank you Lord," she whispered to herself, moments after, a nurse approached her, "Emily's been moved to room 304, you can see her now". Sophia's heart swelled with joy, she made her way to Emily's room, clipboard in hand.

Her heart pounding, her eyes widened as she gazed at her daughter's pale face, Emily's usual vibrant smile was replaced by a motionless, frail expression, Sophia stood beside her hospital bed, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Doctor, will my baby be okay?" She asked in a worried state, Dr Everett offered a reassuring smile, "Yes Sophia. Your child is responding well to treatment, the injuries were severe but we're optimistic about a full recovery ."

"Thank you Lord." She said in relief, the machines surrounding her child beeped steadily, a reminder of the long night ahead, "We'll keep a close watch, your child is in good hands." Sophia nodded, grasping her child's small hand, she gave her a deeply felt kiss on the forehead and sat beside her.

It's 7 am in the morning, the hospital room's light crept through the blinds, Sophia sitting beside Emily's bed, her eyes red from lack of sleep. Emily's little hand twitched, her eyelids fluttering open, she stirred, weakly focusing on Sophia, "Mom?", she whispered in her soft tender voice.

Sophia's tears of joy flowed freely, "Emily, sweetie! You're awake!" Emily's gaze drifted, her voice barely audible, "Where am I?" She asked after noticing she was on a hospital bed, "Oh sweetheart, you were unconscious so I had to rush you down to the hospital" Sophia said trying to chill her off, "Dad...where's dad?"

Sophia's smile faltered, "Oh, sweetie, I..." she hesitated, unsure how to respond, Emily's eyes pleaded, her voice cracking, "I want dad..." Sophia's emotional dam broke as she reminisced about the past, tears welled up in her eyes as she struggled to compose herself

"Honey, I told you already, Daddy isn't here okay? He traveled and is going to be back soon" she replied with a gentle calm voice

"Sweetie, I'll always be here for you no matter what, you don't have to worry about a thing okay?" she nodded.

Sophia cradled Emily, holding back her own sobs, the pain of Emily's father's abandonment flooded back, the memories she'd suppressed for years, the guilt of not being enough for her child, the fear of failing Emily.

Dr. Everett entered the room, with a warm smile on her face, "Good morning, Sophia, Emily's progress is remarkable." Sophia's concern shifted from Emily's health to the hospital bill, "Doctor, I need to ask about the medical expenses..." Dr. Everett waved her hand. "Taken care of, Sophia, the bill's been cleared."

Sophia's eyes widened as she pondered if this was true and if it was, who could it possibly be that cleared the bills, "who...who paid it?" she asked in surprise. "A man came in early this morning, paid the hospital bills, and asked to see you". Dr Everett's expression made Sophia curious, "who is he?", she asked curiously, "he didn't leave his name, but he seemed...invested in Emily's well-being".

Dr. Everett handed Sophia a note. "He left this. Asked you to contact him", Sophia's apprehension grew and her curiosity turned to unease. The note read: "Meet me in the hospital cafeteria at 11 am, a friend."