Sirens echoed down the street, but Richard paid no mind to them as he put the finishing touches on the engine. So he was rather surprised to see an ambulance stop right at his house.

“What's going on?” He asked the paramedics who were pulling out a stretcher from their vehicle. “An older woman passed out and hit her head.” One replied.

Richard's face went white. “Oh god, Glenda!” He immediately rushed into the house with the paramedics close behind him. When he saw his wife lying down by the table. She was pale, and her white hair was stained with blood. He immediately knelt down to her side and gripped her hand.

“Glenda, please be okay.” He whimpered.

The two paramedics gathered around Glenda and began checking for vitals and any problems with her neck. They began to put her on the stretcher when her eyes fluttered open.

“What's… what's going on?” Her voice was weary and tired.

“Shh, you're all right, dear.” Richard squeezed her hand tighter. “I'm gonna be right with you.”

“Where is she?”

Richard paused for a moment, forgetting who she was referring to. Her hand slipped away from him as the paramedics rolled her down the halls. It suddenly dawned on him how the paramedics knew his wife fell. Turning back towards the table, he peered over to the salt and pepper shakers and noticed her tiny face darting back behind shakers.

“Hey, they're gone now.” He whispered.

The small girl timidly stepped out into view, her body trembling. “I heard people…. People coming in and I… I just couldn't be there.”

“It’s fine, I understand.” He reassured her. “But did you call for help?” She nodded. “I couldn't just… leave her there.”

“Thank you, so much for that Stella.” He blinked away some tears that threaten to leak out. “I have no idea what would have happen if you weren't there.”

“Will she be okay? I… I heard her talking.”

“I'm not sure, they didn't tell me anything. I don't even know why she fainted.”

“It just… happened.”

“Well, why don't we find out together.” Richard outstretched his arm and laid his hand out for Stella. He wasn't surprised when she flinched at first. He understood what she must have gone through to have that reaction. He understood that she probably wouldn't want to come with him in such an unfamiliar place. So it was a surprised when he saw her slowly climb onto his palm.

She looked down at her sleeves and fidgeted with them. “Let's go.”

~~~~~~~

The stench of the hospital invaded Richard's nose. There he anxiously sat and waited to find out if Glenda was okay. His heart ached at the thought of his wife being in severe pain. What would he do without her?

The door swung open and the doctor came out.

“Mr. Seward.” She called.

Richard immediately stood up. “Is everything alright?”

“Your wife seems to be doing a lot better now, but we'll need to keep her here for a couple days.” She said. “We need to run some tests on her.”

“So you don't know what happened.” The doctor shook her head. “If I had to guess, she could have a severe case of anemia but there could be a whole bunch of other possibilities.”

“I see, thank you.” Richard replied. After the doctor left. Richard walked into the room to see Glenda laying on the bed. Her energy was drained from her face.

He walked over to her bed and kissed her on the cheek. “Hey hun, how you doing?”

“I'm still a little dizzy, but I'm feeling better, dear.”

“Well, you just get some rest until the doctors figure out what happened.” Glenda gave a weak smile. “Thank you for saving me, honey.”

“Actually, I'm not the one you should be thanking.” Richard gently slid his hand in his pocket and waited until he felt Stella climb onto his hand before pulling her out.

A surprised look appeared on Glenda's face. “Stella?!”

“You dropped your phone on the table.” She stated with worry in her voice. “You… You'll be okay, right?”

“I'll be fine no matter what happens, thanks to you.” Glenda smiled and brought her hand forward and gently rubbed Stella's arm in order to comfort her.

To the couple's surprise, Stella leaned into Glenda's finger more. “Good.”