Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 135652 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135652 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
I rush to say goodbye to the others and rush back to bed. I’m getting married tomorrow and that’s the furthest thing from my mind. What’s wrong with Caleb? Is this a lasting effect of his illness?
He pulls me into him so my head rests on his chest and my thigh across his legs while my hand teases the hairs that travel from his navel to below his boxers. Normally he’d jerk and laugh but this time he remains peacefully sleeping. Sigh.
“I love you baby,” I say and kiss his lips.
“Love you too Gwenny,” He murmurs and tightens his arms around me. I thought he was sleeping, I guess not.
Nuzzling into his chest I stop playing with his trail of hair and instead I hold him as tight to me as possible.
******
The sun hasn’t risen yet. Why am I awake? Ugh, morning sickness.
Leaning over Caleb, I check the clock. Five fifteen in the morning, great. I’ll never get back to sleep now. I’m one of those people who when they wake they’re awake and that’s it.
I can feel the smile cross my lips as the mirage of thoughts flit through my sleepy mind. Today’s my wedding day. I’m marrying the man I’m truly madly in love with. I’m pregnant with his child. I’m going to be a mother.
Mrs Guinevere Weston.
Life is so perfect.
With a happy sigh I stretch out my arms and legs, the wonderful relaxing feeling is interrupted when I feel a dampness with my toes, near Caleb’s knees. Slowly I sit up. I instinctively know something is wrong. The bed feels cooler, there is a sweet sickly smell that hits the back of my throat and aggravates the nausea I already feel.
Caleb’s still, sleeping form lies next to me. Looking at him he looks peaceful, but I look more closely and my throat catches. I can’t see his chest rise and fall, no wait there’s a twitch in his arm. I let out a sigh, of course I’m being silly. I touch his arm to wake him and tell him about my stupid thoughts. I touch his hand; it’s cold, not like ice, but cold like we have been for a walk down the beach in winter and need to wrap our hands round a cup of hot chocolate to warm them. His skin has an almost pearlescent look to it. It’s too pale.
“Caleb,” I whisper and push myself off his chest. “Caleb?” I notice his arms by his sides rather than holding me which is odd for him. “Caleb,” I say louder this time and push his chest.
He doesn’t stir. That’s odd. Maybe he’s still sick.
“Caleb!” I say even louder and tap his cheek. His head rolls to the side, he doesn’t make a noise. My heart hits my ribs and sharp tingles spread through my chest. “Caleb!” I shake him violently this time and switch on the lamp.
“No.” I whisper and place my hand an inch from his mouth whilst staring at his chest. This isn’t happening. He’s not… “CALEB!” I grab both of his shoulders and shake him vigorously. “CALEB! Please. This isn’t funny!” His eyelids don’t even flutter. Oh my god. He’s not breathing.
I place my trembling fingers to his neck.
“NO!” I scream, my eyes burning and my lungs constricting. “Baby, please, wake up now.” No. No. No.
I kick the blanket from the bed and cry out at the mess on the sheets. A choked sob sticks in my throat and my body trembles as I try to comprehend what I’m seeing.
I pull at his body, he still feels warm but he is a dead weight in my arms. No this can’t be happening. You can’t be dead. We have to get married today, you have to see your child be born. I’m going to be all alone.
“Wake up!” I scream, ignoring the pain it brings to my throat.
Ambulance I need to phone an ambulance but I’m torn I don’t want to leave him but I need to get my phone from my bag down stairs my legs feel leaden as I stumble down the stairs. It’s going to be fine they will help him, they can bring him back I dial the number my fingers quick and clumsy on the small buttons.
“He’s not breathing I can’t wake him,” I sob to the woman on the phone but she isn’t understanding me, she tells me to stop take a breath think about what I want to say and repeat slowly.
“What happened?” She’s asking me. What do I tell her? I tell her whatever it is I’m seeing, my address and his name. She’s still talking but I can’t hear her, I need to do something.
He’s… no… he’s not dead. “You’re not dead! Wake up. Wake up right now. This isn’t funny.” I breathe into his mouth while pinching his nose. I throw my phone and start doing chest compressions. Come on baby. Come on. “Please Caleb. Please.”