Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
I know it’s stupid, almost dying and then getting upset about my hair, but I can’t help it. I’ve had long hair for so long. I’m grateful I’m alive, truly I am.
My main priority right now is Nathan and the baby.
“Mum,” I whisper, removing my hand from my burnt hair. “Please don’t get angry.”
“Oh no,” she says, rubbing her hands with her face and sitting back. “It’s okay Gwen, we’ll get through this.”
I nod, placing my hand on my flat stomach, imagining the life growing in there. “I didn’t tell the paramedic. I didn’t think.”
“I’ll deal with it; now please stop talking. You’re going to damage your throat.” She leans over and kisses my cheek before exiting the cubicle.
The severity of the situation hits me hard and my body starts shaking. I’ve never been so scared in my life. What’s worse is the fact that during the situation, during the heat and the choking on the thick smoke and ash, I didn’t feel scared. I felt detached, like my brain couldn’t process the reality of the events.
The curtain pulls back and Jeanine walks in. She looks stricken and my shaking gets worse. My teeth start chattering and my eyes blur. “He’s in intensive care. He’s…” She shakes her head, choking on her words as sorrow overwhelms her. “He’s badly burned on his back and… they’ve had trouble waking him up.”
“What? But I’m okay!” I try to shout, but it comes out as nothing more than a rasp. “How am I okay and he isn’t?” I pull the blankets off the bed, cringing at the hospital gown that’s wrapped around my body. How long have I been out? How long has he been out?
“Gwen, you need…”
“To see him,” I snap. “I’m fine. I need to see him!”
“Gwen…”
I stand, my legs shaking so badly I almost tumble. My chest constricts, but the pain is nothing right now. Pushing back the curtain, I grab my IV stand and wheel it beside me. “Where is he?”
“You won’t be able to get in,” she tells me, taking hold of my arm. “Nathan wouldn’t want you putting yourself at risk. Just get back in bed.” She’s right, but… “Please Gwen. Before your mum comes back and tells me off.”
Frowning, I do as I’m told, albeit angrily.
Mum finally comes back with a doctor, who immediately takes me for a scan of my womb to check the foetus. I don’t look. I don’t want to look if Nathan isn’t here to see it with me.
“Everything looks fine; the heart beat is strong. I put you at six weeks.” She clicks something on the monitor. “I’d like to keep an eye on things though, just to be sure, and we’ll have to be careful with your pain relief. We don’t want your body going through any more stress.”
“Then tell them to let me see Nathan,” I choke and rub my eyes with my hands. “I just need to see him.”
She nods and places her hand on my wrist. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Mum grips the scan picture to her chest. “Are you sure you don’t want to see?”
I nod, rolling onto my side. “Not without him.”
“Okay baby.” She strokes what’s left of my hair and somehow… I fall asleep.
******
“Mr Weston!” I hear somebody shout, startling from my sleep.
He’s come to finish the job, hasn’t he? He’s come to finish me! Mum grabs my hand when she sees my panic and the curtain flies open.
Oh my god.
“Nathan,” I sob and he moves towards me before gathering me into his arms. He looks terrible, maybe even more so than me. “Careful, don’t hurt yourself.”
“I’m okay,” he grunts, his voice sounding nearly as rough as mine. He holds my face in his hands and kisses me deeply. His arms come around me once more. I wince at the blisters along his left arm and move away from them. The hospital gown he’s wearing isn’t tied at the back and I see white tape and cling film type material stretching over his shoulder and around the side of his neck. My heart shatters and it takes everything I have not to cry or freak out. “We’re okay.”
“You stupid man,” I try to shout, but end up coughing up a lung. “You shouldn’t have come in after me.” He ignores me, his hands moving my arms and gown, searching for any burns. “I’m fine. I swear.”
“The baby?” His wide eyes come to mine. “Is the baby okay?” I nod and my mum holds out the scan picture for him to take. He sits on the bed, his back to my knees and stares at the tiny black and grey square in his hands. I avoid looking at his back. I daren’t look at it right now. I’m too scared of how I’ll react when I see it. “I’m so sorry, Gwen.” He turns back towards me, wincing when he stretches his back. “I’m so sorry for doing this to you.”