"A Desperate Plea"

That night, Noah couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in his stomach since the doctor's appointment. He kept thinking about Jacquie and the risks she was facing with her high-risk pregnancy. He knew he had to do something, and so he picked up the phone and dialed the maternity ward. As he waited for someone to answer, his anxiety grew. He had to make sure that Jacquie would be safe, that she would receive the best care possible. When a nurse finally answered, Noah explained the situation and asked if they could take extra precautions to ensure Jacquie's health. The nurse listened attentively, but her response was not what Noah had hoped for. "I'm afraid we can't prioritize Jacquie's care over the baby's," she said. "Our protocol is to do what's best for both mother and child, but sometimes that means making tough decisions." Noah's heart sank. He felt a surge of desperation and fear. He couldn't lose Jacquie, not now, not ever. "You have to help me," he pleaded. "If anything happens to Jacquie, our four kids will be left without a mother. They need her, and I need her. If she dies, I'll be left to raise them on my own, and it will break my heart. I'll never be the same again." The nurse hesitated, and for a moment, Noah thought he saw a glimmer of understanding. But then she said, "I'm sorry, Mr...?" "Noah," he supplied, his voice cracking with emotion. "Mr. Noah, I understand your concerns, but our hands are tied. We have to follow protocol." Noah's desperation turned to anger. "Protocol?" he repeated. "You're talking about my wife's life here. You're talking about the mother of our four children. Can't you see that she's more than just a patient? She's a person, a person who deserves to live, to see her children grow up." The nurse sighed. "I understand what you're saying, Mr. Noah, but—" "No, you don't," Noah interrupted, his voice rising. "You don't understand what it's like to love someone like I love Jacquie. You don't understand what it would do to me, to our children, if anything happened to her. I'm begging you, please, you have to help me. You have to make sure she's safe." There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Noah thought he had gotten through to the nurse. But then she said, "I'll talk to the doctor, but I have to warn you, Mr. Noah, we can't make any promises." Noah's heart was heavy as he hung up the phone. He felt like he had failed Jacquie, like he hadn't done enough to protect her. He walked over to the window and stared out into the night, his mind racing with thoughts of what could happen, of what he could do to keep Jacquie safe. He knew he wouldn't give up, not until he had exhausted every option, every possibility. He would fight for Jacquie's life, for their life together, no matter what it took.