The Greatest Showman #846 - Caught Off Guard

Renly was stunned, his heartbeat faltering in the stillness of time. He quickly lowered his eyelids, defensively masking the confusion and turbulence in his eyes. A faint bitterness lingered on the tip of his tongue, though he couldn't quite place it. "When? When...?" His voice was no longer joyful, but calm—neither panic-stricken nor triumphant. It was a calm that masked the emotions within, making it difficult to read his true feelings.

The simple, restrained words "When" and "How" hung in the air, so quiet that even the murmur of the air seemed louder in contrast.

Renly's composed demeanor made Andy uneasy. He didn't know Heather Cross personally, but he understood the significance of Mount Sinai Hospital and the role its volunteers played in Renly's life.

Andy had suggested publicizing the charity event to help build Renly's image and generate media attention, but Renly had refused. He wanted to do his part without fanfare—no publicity, no hype. Most importantly, he didn't want to disrupt the peace of these children's lives.

"I don't know much about the situation," Andy continued, his voice strained. He had flown to New York that day but hadn't had time to visit Mount Sinai. "It seems that this started the day before yesterday. Thick phlegm blocked her airway, making it difficult to breathe and causing suffocation, which led to cardiac arrest. The doctors had to perform surgery immediately."

Andy spoke the facts as clearly as he could, but his tone was heavy. He looked at Renly, who listened intently, his expression unchanged. It was a quiet concentration that made Andy feel even more uncomfortable. Renly's calm was unsettling.

"Yesterday, Heather's mother, Ellie, called me. They were trying to reach you, but couldn't find your number. They went through the Screen Actors Guild and eventually found me. Heather is still in a coma. The doctors say her condition is under control, but she hasn't woken up. It's just a matter of her willpower now. Ellie has tried everything to help, but nothing has worked. She thought of you as a last resort."

At first, Andy had been skeptical when he received the call. His first instinct was to hang up. After all, if every patient were to request something from an artist, the manager would never have time for anything else. But this situation was different, especially when he learned that Heather was at Mount Sinai Hospital.

For Heather, Andy felt only pity, no personal connection. Her name meant little to him, just another stranger. But now, looking at Renly, whose demeanor remained steady and unshaken, Andy found it difficult to speak. Renly's presence seemed to dwarf him, making him feel smaller than ever.

For the first time, Andy lowered his gaze, avoiding Renly's eyes. "She... she wants to know if you have time to visit Heather in the hospital."

Renly remembered the last time he saw Heather—she had been healthy, preparing for an audition for American Idol. Her rehabilitation was progressing, and she was full of hope. He had thought things were improving, but now everything had changed so suddenly. Had he misunderstood? Had something gone wrong?

Renly nodded slowly, his lips curling into a faint smile—gentle, elegant, and warm. "Of course. Please, take me to Mount Sinai Hospital."

The driver glanced at Andy, who confirmed with a nod, and the car began moving.

"Renly..." Andy called, his voice laced with worry. Renly turned, casting a brief, questioning look. "What's wrong?" Andy found himself at a loss for words, unsure how to continue. He could only ask, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Renly replied, smiling again, his expression relaxed. He then turned back to the window, his calm facade unchanged.

Andy fell silent, exchanging glances with Roy, both of them filled with unease. But neither of them knew what to say. The car settled into an uncomfortable stillness.

Outside, the world seemed cold and distant, with the chill air clashing against the warmth inside the car. The fogged windows blurred the scenery, and everything outside felt unreal—like time itself was being warped, its passage unnoticed.

The cityscape outside faded into a blend of gray buildings and dense crowds. Traffic slowed, the world becoming more congested, and the sense of pressure intensified. The noise of the crowd grew, swallowing up the air in the car, while Renly's thoughts churned.

A single cough.

For most people, it would have been a minor inconvenience, but for Heather, it had become a deadly complication. Respiratory failure, difficulty swallowing and speaking, even breathing becoming a luxury. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis—the name of the disease that had taken hold of Heather, relentless and unforgiving. Renly had almost forgotten how quickly the disease could ravage a life, seizing everything in its path without warning.

Suddenly, Renly yanked open the car door, the cold air rushing in. The sudden movement startled everyone inside. They turned, panic rising as they saw Renly sprinting away.

"Renly!" Nathan shouted, rushing out of the car. Roy and Andy followed, their voices filled with alarm, "Renly!" But Renly didn't stop. He bypassed the car and dashed into the crowd, merging with the mass of people, running without a clear direction.

Nathan tried to catch up but quickly fell behind, out of breath, watching helplessly as Renly disappeared into the throng.

Turning back, Nathan's face was full of worry. "What do we do now? Heather means a lot to Renly. He even brought her a gift in Berlin."

Andy's face fell. He felt a pang of regret for not being more considerate, for not knowing more about Heather's situation. He should have cared more. But it was too late for that now. Looking at Roy, they shared a wordless moment of shared concern.

Roy sighed deeply. "Renly will take care of himself. We need to get to Mount Sinai Hospital as soon as possible." He ran a hand through his hair, his thoughts scattered. "Andy, should we have left Renly in Berlin?"

Andy and Roy exchanged a glance, but neither knew how to answer.

Renly ran, his chest burning with heat and panic. He needed fresh air, needed to run—to clear his mind, to escape the overwhelming pressure that suffocated him. He didn't know what he was doing or where he was going. He was just following his instincts, letting his legs carry him.

His thoughts stopped altogether, consumed by blankness. There was no panic, no thought, just an overwhelming rush of emotions. His heartbeat was erratic, his mind lost in the chaos.

Eventually, his lungs burned, his breathing became erratic, and his feet finally stopped. He leaned forward, hands on his knees, gasping for air. A violent cough wracked his body, leaving him bent over, struggling for breath.

The cold air hit him, and his mind snapped back into focus.

Heather.

It wasn't his story. It was Heather's. The person lying in a coma was Heather. The person who needed help now was Heather—not him.

Straightening up, Renly surveyed his surroundings, disoriented. He was surrounded by the steel and concrete of the city, a sea of people, each individual lost in the crowd. In the chaos, he spotted an empty taxi and flagged it down.

"Mount Sinai Hospital," he instructed the driver.

When the taxi arrived, Renly realized with a jolt that he had run out without his wallet or phone.

"Renly, right?" the driver said, glancing at him in the rearview mirror. "I recognize you from Crazy Love. Don't worry about the fare—take your time. Just get in touch when you can."

"Thank you," Renly said, his voice tight with gratitude. "Give me your business card, and I'll get back to you."