The Love That Passed

Third Person’s POV

“Colleeeeeenn…” Jared shouted, which made Ingrid and Claire rush to him, crying.

“Jared… huhuhu….” Claire said, “You’re finally awake,” she added. He looked at them and said,

“Colleen? Where’s my wife?” he asked in a hurry and started to roam his eyes around and landed on the bed next to him. His eyes watered when he saw Colleen with a tube in her mouth. He tried to get up but Ingrid and Claire tried to stop him but he didn’t. Instead, he went to Colleen’s bed and looked at her,

“What happened? Why is she like this?” he asked and his tears started to run down his face.

“My wife,” he called her in a hoarse voice. “My wife, I am here, come on, wake up now,” he added. Ingrid couldn’t help it anymore so she decided to call her doctor instead. She didn’t want to see Jared in that state and she knew that he would be broke when he found out about his wife’s condition.

He tried to wake up Colleen repeatedly but she didn’t make a move. Lucy and Betty came in and were heart broken when they found Jared. “Jared, calm yourself. You’re not better yet.” Claire said as she stroked his back gently.

“Our daughter, where’s our daughter?” he asked,

“She’s in the incubator now, but she’s fine. Dr. Chin assured us. You have to have a check-up to make sure that you’re fine as well. You didn’t want Colleen to worry about you when she woke up, right?” Claire continued. Jared looked at him and nodded. She wanted to break down as well, but she tried to be strong because she knew that her son needed him. Especially when he found out about Colleen’s current condition.

“Get back to your bed first,” Claire said, and she helped him. Betty and Lucy approached him and gave him a smile.

“Everything’s going to be OK so listen to your mom. Do not make her worry about you as well, because she has been crying a lot,” Lucy told him. Jared knew that she was in pain too because of Colleen, but he was glad that she was holding on for the sake of his family. He felt relieved that everyone was making an effort to lighten their burden and help them get through with everything.

After a few more minutes, Ingrid met her with her doctor and nurse. “How are you feeling now, Jared?” his doctor asked,Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“I feel fine.”

“Are you hurt somewhere?” he asked again and Jared shook his head.

“I am going to take a few tests on you just to make sure that you will be completely fine. What you have been through was really hard and I tell you, not everyone can manage to survive it so consider yourself lucky.” The doctor continued and left after he gave instructions to the nurse on what Jared needed to do.

“How long is she like that?” Jared asked after the nurse took all the necessary lab tests for him.

“During her operation,” Claire said, “Dr. Chin was very confident a day before her CS, she said everything was fine and looked good. All her vitals were normal and she was certain that nothing would go wrong.” She added.

“But when night came and she had not seen you, she started to get worried. I told her that you had come by while she was taking a nap in the afternoon, even if you didn’t. It was only what Ingrid had told me because I went home and she was the one who looked after her.” Lucy informed him, he was the one who told Ingrid even before he was shot. He knew that it was very dangerous for him so he talked to his sister and asked her to improvise a story or anything believable so Colleen would not worry before and during CS.

“At night, before she slept, I heard her crying so I talked to her and promised her that I was going to wake her up when you arrived.” Lucy added. “Maybe she was still thinking about you. That’s why she had an attack during her operation. It was a good thing that Dr. Gerard was there and helped her stabilize,” she continued. Jared nodded and once again he blamed himself for making Colleen worry.

“How long has she been like that?” he asked in a low voice.

“Two weeks,” Claire replied,

“I want to see our daughter, but I can’t, mom.” Jared said in a broken voice. He didn’t know but he was feeling a little off,

“Don’t blame your daughter for everything, Jared. She doesn’t know anything about any of these and yet, she was in the incubator holding on for her dear life as well.” Claire said as she began to understand Jared’s feelings. She was thinking that he may not like the idea of their child being alive at the cost of Colleen’s life. “I know what you are thinking so I want you to be rational about all of this.”

“I know that mom, but I couldn’t help but—”

“Stop it Jared, don’t hate your daughter.” Lucy voiced it out and gave him a sharp look. “Colleen will never like it, don’t forget that she had been neglected by me and her father.” she added, which made Jared’s eyes widen. He had just realized that he was starting to give his daughter a life that Colleen had been through. He started crying again out of helplessness.

Ingrid was sitting on the couch with Betty and was crying too as they hugged each other. She pitied Jared for everything that was happening to him. She knew that Colleen was good for him and she saw how happy Jared was compared to when he was with Stacey.

Everyone was sad for him and Colleen, as well as their daughter, but they couldn’t do anything about it. They couldn’t extend Colleen’s life and they knew that she was ready for it too. Jared looked at his wife again and prayed sincerely to give them a chance to see each other. To be with each other even a little more so he could say sorry and promise her that he would be taking care of their daughter so she could come in peace. ‘Please, give us time.’ he thought before his tears cut down his face once again, as he looked into Colleen’s colorless face.