#convohansel

Eleanora had been visiting Leo when it happened. Her face contorted and her hand immediately when to her abdomen as her water broke. She cussed in Italian under her breath and went straight to the front desk of the infirmary to ask that they call Hansel down. It was time. The lady eyed her and then put her into a wheel chair to bring her over to one of the rooms. Dr. Friedmann was called, but all there was to do now was to wait. Eleanora had never been very patient and she'd been waiting for nine months already...but a knot of fear turned her blood to ice. Her mind went to Noèmie, who was with God now. What would her little daughter be like now if she had been born? A mother never forgot the pain of losing a child...time passed and nothing changed other than it got easier to bear the pain more quietly, but it was agony nonetheless. Ellie couldn't even imagine what she would do if she lost Angelina as well...it would drive her insane. She had nearly drowned in her sorrow the last time...the dark thoughts swirled in her head until she felt dizzy with panic. She said a quick prayer to ask for protection and wished that Hansel would come soon...lest she worry herself into oblivion.

Sometime later...maybe two hours or so, a sharp pain from her abdomen woke Eleanora up. She gasped and winced at the cramping coming from her stomach. She didn't know what was going on, so she fumbled for the light switch so she could go to the bathroom. As soon as the light flicked on something caught her eye...red...her head snapped down as another cramp gripped her...that was when she saw it...blood all over the bed sheets...and then she screamed. A sharp, piercing sound that was almost primal ripped itself out of her throat as she clutched the source of the bleeding. "No, no, no, no!!!!" she shrieked as sobs choked her.

Hansel left Eleanora's room to shower and she was alone for a little while. The taste in her mouth was awful so she decided to brush her teeth. Her eyes flicked to her reflection in the mirror and she shivered. Her hair was a mess, her skin was pale, and her eyes had lost their sparkle. A sigh escaped her. She would need to take better care of herself in the future...afterall, she wasn't just living for herself anymore. A flash caught her eye and she looked down at her ring finger. There sat the engagement ring...a bittersweet reminder. They were still engaged...but they were broken...She took it off and found a silver chain in her jewelry box. After placing the ring on the chain, she put it on as a necklace. It was the way widows wore their rings. It symbolized commitment but showed that the love was unreachable. She hoped that one day she would wear it with the same fondness as before...but that wasn't today. Looking at the clock, Eleanora changed into sweats. Now all there was to do was to wait...

She headed out and just wandered the halls, hoping that no one came across her. She didn't have an excuse yet, but she would make one up. Maybe the new scenery would do her good and take her mind off Lucas. But something made Eleanora doubt that. As she rounded a corner she ran into someone. Shock filled her as she stumbled back and then recovered herself. She didn't see who she had run into but she tried to straighten herself out as she said, "Excuse me, I didn't see you there."