Providence

Chapter 97: Evelyn

I'm on my way to announce my decision to quit my job to Mark. I'm not even going to go near Simon. I don't want to see him. I just want to forget about what nearly happened. And I feel that quitting my job and getting away from him will be a stepping stone towards that.

For God's sake. I've just stepped into the office and he's the first person who's noticed. I can see him approaching me from his office.

"Evelyn, are you alright?" he asks.

"I need to talk to Mark about something."

He nods. "He's at a conference. I'm overseeing everything by myself today. Can I help in any way."

I could tell him no. I could say that I want to talk to Mark specifically and come back another day. But, I'd likely still have to see Simon again then. And I want to just get this over with. "Yeah, I'd like to talk to you."

He gestures towards his office door amid the cluster of my old co-workers tapping at the keyboards on their computers. I enter and he follows me closely.

"I hope you're not just doing this because of what happened the other night," he says.

I nod. "I am partly," I tell him. "I love Ryan and my baby, and to keep working alongside you, even after he's gone, that would be betraying him."

My eyes are stinging. I blink back the approaching stream of approaching tears. "Not only that," I say. "But, Simon, you're my boss, it would be unethical of me to continue to work here following this."

He shakes his head. "Not unless something actually happened, which it didn't."

"I know," I say. "But I can't do it. I'm sorry."

He sighs. "Okay," he replies. "Well, I wish you luck with whatever it is you're going to do instead. And I apologise I've put you in this situation."

I could easily agree. I could tell him what happened was his fault. And trust me, that is so tempting right now. It's easier. But it's not right. I have to admit, for once, that I was at fault. "You didn't put me in this situation," I say. "It's a choice I made, following a mistake that we both made."

He nods, as I open the door. "Just so you know, we're losing one of our best journalists. You were really good at what you did."

The tears I had been trying so hard to suppress hydrate my eyelids. "I know," I say. "And I loved it."

With that, I close the door over. I really did love what I did, and it has been really hard to say goodbye to my job, but it's a sacrifice I have had to make for the common good. Stepping inside the apartment, all I can hear is Denise's wails and what I perceive as low mumbling groans. Something's wrong. I rush into the living room to see Ryan squirming on the floor. He was the source of the groaning, except he wasn't just groaning, he was sobbing in pain, and I just could hear the full extent of it over Denise's prevailing bawls. I crouch down beside him.

"Ryan," I say. "What's wrong?"

He seems to almost be having a panic attack. He's breathing rapidly and it's really loud. His eyes are closed and he's gritting his teeth, trying not to cry out. "It's my back, Evelyn," he weeps. "It really hurts."

I bring my face to his level. "Can you try sit up?"

He shakes his head, his heaving breaths becoming worse. "I can't, I can't move."

"Okay," I whisper. "I need you to try relax for me, while I call an ambulance."

"No," he asserts. "No ambulance, please."

"Ryan," I say. "You're in pain. You need to go hospital." He grabs my hand.

"No," he cries. "I want to be here with you and Denise. Please, Evelyn, I don't want to die in hospital. I want to die beside you and the baby. Please."

For the first time, Denise crying isn't getting to me. Right now, all I can focus is his pained face. I really want to grant him his wish of staying here. But he's in too much pain and I can't hep him with that. But doctors can.I begin to sob alongside him. "I'm sorry Ryan, but I have to call them."

"No," he cries, as I take my phone from my pocket. "Please."

Trying my best to ignore his pleading, I activate a call to the emergency services and ask for an ambulance.