Page 74 of He Doesn't Deserve You

Emily hurriedly threw the car into park, leaped out, and sprinted into the hotel. She dashed to the front desk, bypassing the couple already standing there, and urgently pleaded, “My husband needs help. I think he’s going to hurt himself.”

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the man behind thecounter quickly addressed the couple, “I’ll be right with you.” He then turned to Emily; his expression serious. “How can I assist you?”

“My husband is here,” Emily said breathlessly. “I don’t know what room he’s in, but he’s not answering my calls. I think he might have done something to himself. Please, we need to hurry.”

“Okay, calm down. What is your husband’s name?”

“Gabriel Anderson.”

The man typed Gabriel’s name into the computer, looked at the screen, and frowned, “Your husband has checked in. But I’m afraid no other names are listed on the reservation. How can I be sure that you are who you say you are?”

“I’ll be right back,” Emily ran out of the lobby to get the purse that she had left in the car. When she returned, the manager stood beside the employee; Emily handed the man her driver’s license and said, “My name is Emily Anderson; I’m his wife, check the address; it’s the same as his. Please, we’re wasting time. My husband needs us.”

The manager examined her ID and compared it to the information on the screen before returning it to Emily. “I’m sorry, but I can’t give you a key since you’re not listed on the reservation.”

“That’s fine,” Emily replied urgently. “Just please, go check on him.”

The manager nodded to the employee, who swiftly created a key card and handed it to him. “Room 217.”

Upon hearing the room number, Emily didn’t wait for the manager. She raced down the hallway and sprinted up the stairs. Within moments, she reached room 217. She banged on the door, shouting, “Gabriel, it’s me. Open up!”

She was still pounding on the door when the manager finally arrived. Emily stepped aside to let him unlock it, but instead, he knocked politely. “Mr. Anderson, this is Keith, the manager. Could you please open the door?”

Frustrated, Emily shouted, “He’s not answering! Just open the door!”

Keith swiped the key card in front of the keypad, and the momentthe green light appeared, Emily turned the handle, flung the door open, and rushed inside. Her heart sank, fearing they were too late, as she saw Gabriel, pale and unconscious, sprawled on the bed. An empty pill bottle and a bottle of Jack Daniels lay on the floor beside him.

“Call 9-1-1!” she shouted, rushing to his bedside and frantically feeling for a pulse.

Keith swiftly made the call while Emily urgently tapped Gabriel’s cheeks, pleading, “Wake up! Come on, Gabriel, wake up.”

She frantically attempted to rouse Gabriel without success until the paramedics arrived. Then, reluctantly stepping aside, she allowed them to take over and work on him. Within minutes, the paramedics assessed the situation, placed Gabriel on a gurney, and administered oxygen.

“We’re taking him to Community Hospital,” the EMT informed Emily as they wheeled him out of the hotel room.

“I’ll follow you,” Emily said, following them out of the room. She sprinted to her car, started the engine, and pulled in behind the ambulance, anxiously waiting as they loaded Gabriel inside and prayed,Please let him make it.”

As she sped behind the ambulance, her mind raced with thoughts of the boys. They were old enough to understand the gravity of the situation, and they needed to be there in case Gabriel didn’t make it. She knew they would never forgive her if she didn’t give them the chance to see him one last time.

She made a sharp U-turn, pressed the voice control button on her steering wheel, and commanded, “Call Hunter.”

He picked up right away. “Hello?”

“Hunter, it’s me. I found your dad. He took some pills, and he’s in an ambulance on the way to the hospital right now. Grab your brother and meet me outside. I’ll be there in five minutes to pick you guys up.”

“Oh, my God! Okay.”

Hunter and Hayden were waiting for Emily when she pulled up tothe house. They quickly hopped into the car, and Emily felt a pang of sorrow; she had never seen them look so scared before.

“Is Dad going to be okay?” Hayden asked, his eyes brimming with tears.

Emily gently touched his shoulder and replied, “They’re doing everything possible.”

Ten minutes later, Emily dropped the boys off at the Emergency Department entrance and said, “Go. I’ll park the car and be right in.”

When she entered the hospital, Hunter rushed to greet her. “They won’t tell me anything because I’m a minor,” he said, anxiety evident in his voice.

Emily gently but swiftly moved past Hunter and hurried to the reception desk. “My husband, Gabriel Anderson, was just brought in by ambulance,” she said urgently. “Can you give me any information on his status?”

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