Seven hours later, we rushed into the hospital. Momma and Papa hot on my heels. "Domenico Amatucci," I said to the charge nurse in the Emergency Department.
"Relationship?" she asked in a bored tone of voice.
"Fiancée; these are his parents." I gestured to Momma and Papa.
"Third floor, recovery."
She was still speaking when I raced for the elevator sign I'd seen on our mad dash in. Jumping into the elevator, I slapped the OPEN button to hold the car for Momma and Papa. They rushed in behind me.
"You're so fast, figlia," Papa said, his breath panting.
"I'm on a mission, Papa. No one's stopping me today." I counted the floors as they were highlighted over the door. As soon as the elevator car rocked to a gentle halt, I was pulling on the doors to get them to open. Following the signs that Momma translated for me, I made my way to the next nurses' station.
"Domenico Amatucci. I'm his fiancée and these are his parents." I didn't give her time to delay me.