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SOUTH BAY HOSPITAL
Ricardo paced the floor nervously. Maria and his mother sat quietly staring at the floor in the waiting room. Antonio had been brought in almost two hours ago and they still had no word from the doctors. Carmen jumped from her chair and ran to the nurses’ station. "Please, please, I beg you...how is my baby?" She began to sob uncontrollably. Maria took her by the shoulders. "Mama, please come and sit down. I’m sure the doctors will come out as soon as they know anything." Maria tried hard to sound sure for her mother, but inside she was uncomfortably certain things were not going well. She led Carmen back to the chairs and helped her sit down. Another hour had passed when Ricardo had reached the boiling point. "Dammit, I want someone to tell me what the hell is going on here and I want to know NOW!" He was yelling loudly and the nurse he was unleashing on was visible shaken. "I’m s..s..sorry, Sir. I know you are anxious," the nurse squeaked out. "Oh, yeah, well if I don’t get some answers right now..." Just then, a weary Tyus walked through the doors. He was bombarded by the entire Torres family speaking to him at the same time. "I understand your angst," Tyus began calmly. "Please, just give me a chance to try to fill you in." He motioned for the waiting room chairs and they all headed over for a seat. Ricardo stood directly across from Tyus. "I don’t want to sit down. I want to see my brother, now," he said agitatedly. "I know you do. Please," Tyus began. "The situation is, not good." Tyus was looking gently at the three of them begging him for an explanation. "Antonio is extremely ill. We have been running a battery of tests, but, so far we are unable to determine the cause of…" Ricardo interrupted, "What the hell do you mean you don’t know what’s wrong with him? What kind of a hospital is this anyway?" Maria stood up and gently placed her hands on Ricardo’s shoulders. "Ricardo," she spoke softly. "Ricardo, please. Let Tyus finish." Ricardo ran his fingers nervously through his hair and looked back to Tyus. "As I said, Antonio is very, very sick. He came in with a temperature of 105. We have been able to bring the fever down somewhat, but it is still hovering around 102. We have sent blood samples to the lab and I ordered the results ASAP. His reflexes are weak and I’m not seeing a strong, stable heartbeat." Carmen was in tears. Maria was trying to comfort her, but she wouldn’t calm down. "I’m afraid that is all I can tell you for know. When I have some more definitive answers, I will let you know." Tyus paused and Ricardo sensed the news wasn’t over. He raised his eyes to meet Tyus’ and could read the look. "Tyus, what else?" Tyus hesitated with his last piece of news. He looked to the floor and said quietly, "Antonio is in a deep coma." Carmen shrieked and slumped into Maria’s arms. Ricardo turned around trying to keep everyone from seeing the fear on his face. Ricardo had always been so strong with a crisis, but this was his little brother. His best friend. He stood for a moment, and then silently walked away down the hall and into the stairwell. Maria rose to stand next to Tyus. "Tyus, I think mama needs to see him. May we go in, please?" "Yes, but for only a few minutes." He leaned to whisper in Maria’s ear, "I don’t want Carmen in there very long…the situation isn’t stable." Maria was shocked by Tyus’ statement, but she nodded understanding and directed Carmen into Antonio’s room. GABI’S APARTMENT The sun was shining through the window hitting Gabi directly in the eyes. She pulled her pillow over her head and groaned loudly. Her sleep had been restless, but decent and she was more rested than she had been in a while. Today was her day off and she planned to go for a walk on the beach. As she rose from the bed, the now too familiar feeling hit and she sprinted for the bathroom. After a few minutes, she pulled herself up from the floor and checked her appearance in the mirror. She hastily combed through her hair and exited the bathroom. She dressed quickly and rushed off to the beach. She had a lot of thinking to do today. Dr. Snyder had called her yesterday after not hearing back from her after the appointment. They had spoken for a few minutes before Gabi invented an emergency to get off the phone. She just wasn’t ready to talk. Gabi walked down the beach with the warm sand squishing through her toes. Her thoughts ran to all her friends back in Sunset Beach. She missed them desperately and wished she could see them again. She needed Vanessa and Meg to talk to. Well, she really needed Antonio, but knew that was not an option. She saw a tall, dark-haired man standing down the beach from her. He had just gotten out of the water and was drying off with his back to her. She could see the muscles flexing in his back as he bent to dry off his legs. Her heart quickened and she began to walk a little faster towards him. It couldn’t be him...it couldn’t be. She was almost running by the time she got to him and put her hand onto his shoulder, "Antonio?" The man spun around, startled by her touch. He was a handsome man, but not her Antonio. "Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else," her embarrassment evident. "You thought I was Antonio?" the stranger quipped. He looked her over carefully. "Wish I was." He smiled at Gabi. She blushed slightly and gave him a smile. "Sorry again," she said quickly and turned to head off. She walked until she found a quiet spot and spread out her towel. She gazed out on the water and watched the people surfing and swimming. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the most beautiful little girl. She looked to be about 3 or 4 years old with long, dark curly hair. She was building sand castles with her father. Gabi glanced to the man to find he was the stranger she had thought was Antonio. Even from this distance, his dark hair and etched features fooled her. She watched intently as he helped the little girl build up the sand and them smash it down again with the shovel. The little girl laughed and shouted with glee as her daddy began tickling her relentlessly. Gabi could feel the tears growing and, without thinking, she placed her hand over her flat stomach. She surprised herself with the gesture...she had not allowed herself to think of this baby as a reality yet - not until this very moment. Seeing the adorable little girl with the man who resembled her own true love, she knew that her decision was made. In her subconscious, she knew it had been made the moment she found out she was pregnant. But now, she felt it with an overwhelming sense of surety. She also knew for certain that she would never return to Sunset Beach. She couldn’t go back to Antonio or Ricardo ever. She was aware that the news she brought with her would tear their family apart irretrievably. With her out of the picture, Gabi knew Ricardo would never learn of her love for Antonio. It would take time, but he was a strong man and would move on and make a new life for himself with someone who loved him with her whole heart. Antonio had the church to keep him strong. He had made his decision after their time together in the cave-in. Gabi would never ask him to leave the church for her and she would never allow him to feel he had to leave because of their child. As much as she longed to spend the rest of her life with him, raising their child and growing old together, she knew it was an impossible dream. Antonio had made his choice and she was willing to accept it because of how much she loved him. She would have this part of Antonio to remind her of the deep and undying love they would always share. Gabi rose from the sand and gathered her things. As she walked past the little girl, the wide-eyed child looked up at her and smiled a heart melting smile. Gabi smiled back and continued on her way, her hand never leaving her stomach and the smile never leaving her lips.
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