**Chapter 17: The Darkest Hour**

The hospital's emergency room was a blur as Alev rushed Ashley through the sliding glass doors, her wheelchair gliding across the floor with a soft whoosh. The sounds of beeping machines and muffled conversations filled the air, but Ashley's focus was solely on Alev's worried face. His eyes, normally warm and reassuring, were etched with concern as he pushed her chair, his long strides eating up the distance. As they reached the reception desk, a harried nurse looked up from her computer, her eyes scanning Ashley's pale face. "What seems to be the problem?" she asked, her tone firm but not unkind. Alev took a deep breath, his voice low and urgent. "My wife is 23 weeks pregnant, and she just started bleeding. She felt a sharp pain, and...and we need to get her seen right away." The nurse's expression turned serious, and she quickly typed on her computer. "Okay, let's get you back to obstetrics. I'm going to get a gurney ready." Ashley's mind reeled as she was transferred from the wheelchair to the gurney. She felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, and Alev's hand grasped hers, his fingers intertwining with hers in a tight grip. The ride to the obstetrics unit was a whirlwind of activity. Ashley was wheeled through corridors, past doors with signs that read "Intensive Care" and "Surgery." She caught glimpses of faces, some concerned, others detached, but none seemed to hold the answer to her growing fear. Finally, they arrived at a small room with a single bed and a collection of machines beeping and whirring. A doctor in a white coat with a kind face and gentle eyes entered, followed by a nurse. "Hello, Ashley," the doctor said, his voice soothing. "I'm Dr. Lee. Can you tell me what happened?" Ashley's voice trembled as she recounted the events of the past hour. Dr. Lee listened attentively, his expression growing more somber with each passing moment. When she finished, he turned to Alev. "I need to examine your wife. Can you step outside for a minute?" Alev hesitated, his eyes searching Ashley's face, but Dr. Lee's firm nod convinced him to step out into the hallway. The doctor's hands were gentle as he performed the examination, but Ashley couldn't shake the feeling of unease. What was happening to her baby? Was she losing her child? As Dr. Lee finished and began to speak, Ashley's heart sank. "Ashley, it looks like you're experiencing a condition called placental abruption. The placenta is separating from the uterus, which is causing the bleeding." Ashley's vision blurred as tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. She felt a wave of panic rising, but Alev's reappearance beside her calmed her. He took her hand in his, his fingers stroking her palm. "We're going to get through this," he whispered, his voice barely audible. But as Dr. Lee continued to speak, Ashley's fear turned to despair. The situation was critical, and her baby's life hung in the balance. The doctor's words were a blur, but one phrase stuck with her: "We need to act fast." In that moment, Ashley knew that their lives were about to change forever. The darkness closing in around her seemed to have a life of its own, and she wondered if they would emerge into the light again.