NEW YORK CITY, NY – HOSPITAL – MAR. 17TH, 2002 – SUNDAY

     “NO!” Tom placed both his hands on his head and just shook it. He couldn’t believe he had lost his baby.

     Ashley inhaled and exhaled quickly and kept shaking his head.

     Grace just kept looking at the doctor and cried.

     “I’m really sorry she lost her baby.” the doctor said, but not one was actually paying attention to him “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go. Kirstin will be back in her room in an hour, an hour and a half.” he turned and left the place.

     An hour had gone by. Ashley had returned from the chapel and was now pacing around. Grace still sat in the same spot she was when the doctor left and Tom was sitting on the floor, his legs to his chest and his head placed on his knees.

     Grace then stood up and left. Tom heard her getting up and looked up. He saw her leaving, but didn’t even bother asking her where she was going. The same happened to Ashley, he just saw her leave.

     After a while, Grace showed up holding 2 cups of coffee.

     “Here.” she lightly kicked Tom’s feet and handed him the coffee when he looked up at her.

     “Thanks.” he thanked getting the coffee and taking a sip out of it.

     “Here.” she handed Ashley another cup.

     “Thank you.” he thanked Grace and just sat down beside her.

     “Ash, Tom.” Grace said and both stared at her “I know this is much harder for you boys then it is for me. I know that. But I know it’s gonna be ten times worse for Kirstin.” Tom looked down and Ashley played with his fingers “So, when she gets here, can you just, like… be strong? For her, I mean? She can’t have three friends by her side that are falling apart. We have to be strong for her, because no one else will and she is gonna need us more than anytime.”

     “You’re right.” Ashley placed his hand on her knee to support her. Ashley knew it wasn’t easy on Grace to say that. Ashley could seethe tears forming and falling from Grace’s eyes.

     “Yeah.” Tom just nodded.

     “Ok. I’m glad you guys agree to that. We gotta be there for Kirstin.” Grace said.

     “Totally.” Tom added and just kept nodding.

     After what seemed to have been another hour later, Claire, the nurse, came into view bringing Kirstin in a gurney. The three of them stood up abruptly and, in silence, followed the nurse and Kirstin inside the room.

     Claire, with the help of Tom, carried Kirstin and placed her on the hospital bed.

     “She’s really weak and heavily medicated.” Claire informed the trio “So, I think she’ll be out for another hour or even two. As you two can’t be here in the room with her, I recommend you both wait in the waiting room or leave and come back later.” Claire told Grace and Tom.

     “I’m staying, G. What about you?” Tom asked Grace.

     “I’m staying too, of course.” Grace nodded at him.

     “Great. Then if you’ll follow me.” Claire said.

     “I’ll just talk to her for a while and then I’ll meet you guys outside, alright?” Ashley informed Grace and Tom.

     “Sure. Cool.” Tom said and left with Grace by his side.

     Ashley took a deep breath and placed the chair beside Kirstin’s bed. He took her hand and wanted to start talking, but instead of words, just tears took him over.

     “K, baby. God, this is too hard.” he managed to get out through the tears “I’m pretty sure you know what happened by now.” tears were taking over his face as he placed his hand gently on her belly “Our baby is gone. He just… no more.” Ashley shook his head. How could the baby be there one minute and the other, just disappear? Ashley still couldn’t believe it as he looked at Kirstin’s belly. It didn’t have the lump it had when the baby was there “K, I know this is gonna be unbelievably difficult. And it’s not only difficult for you, but for me too. And Tom and Grace. We were devastated when the doctor told us. But I just want you to know that we’ll be here to you. You don’t have to suffer any more than you already have. We’re gonna be here for you to support you and to love you. We’re gonna get through this just as we always get through everything. This is gonna be much harder and we both know it, but we also know that our love is too strong and we’ll be able to go over this if we stay together. I didn’t wanna go through this, but God didn’t give us any another option. So we’re gonna have to do this. And I just want you to know that you’ll always have me by your side, ok? Whenever you turn around, I’ll be there. I’m never leaving you.” another tear fell as he kissed her lips tenderly “I love you.” he said in her ears “I’m gonna talk to Tom and Grace now, but I’ll be back before you wake up. Don’t worry.” he brushed a lock of her hair away from her face and left the room.

     “So, man?” Tom asked as soon as Ashley sat beside him on couch in the waiting room.

     “Oh, this is tough.” Ashley shook his head and placed it between his hands.

     “Oh, yes.” Tom’s face was horrible. His hair was a mess, his eyes and nose were red from crying and he still had some tears down his cheeks.

     “Why don’t you go talk to her? She can listen, you know? Go talk to her. I’m pretty sure there’s no problem each one of us talking to her if there’s only one person in the room.” Ashley informed.

     “You think?” Tom questioned.

     “Yeah, I’m pretty sure. But just to be totally sure, talk to Claire over there.” Ashley pointed to Claire that was just emerging from a room.

     “Ok, I’ll do that. Then you can go after me, G.” Tom looked at his friend.

     “Oh, I wanna talk to her so much.” Grace wiped the tears away from her face.

     “Ok. Let me go.” Tom turned and trailed to Claire.

     “Oh, apparently it’s ok, see?” Ashley pointed to Grace at Tom heading to the room after talking to Claire.

     “Oh, good! Then I’m next.” Grace seemed to be a little bit more excited.