See You Around~ Grester (completed)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chester's POV

The colour drained from my face, my skin pale and my fingertips blue. No. It was the only word I could hear right now. No. No this can't be happening. No this isn't meant to happen. No she's fine. No she doesn't deserve this. No she doesn't have cancer. No. 

Grace ran up to me, her cheeks wet and eyes red. I wanted to console her as she cried into my chest but I couldn't move. I couldn't register this occurrence, my eyes were wide with confusion. My limbs shook with fear. She hugged me but my arms didn't reach for her, I wasn't mad I wasn't going to leave but I wasn't okay. My heart pounded and I'm sure Grace could feel it through my chest. I had so many questions, so many things I needed to say but nothing formed in my mouth; my words turned to mush as my mind processed what I wanted to say. 

"Grace." I said like small child, one that was lost in a field of confusion. 

"No, it's not terminal, there is a cure. It'll be painful and stressful but I'll get better. Uterine cancer they said; cancer of the uterus. No, it wasn't your fault and there was nothing either of us could've done to prevent it. I know the word is scary Chester but promise me you'll stay. I'm so so sorry." 

She spoke as if answering my mental questions; confirming everything my feeble mouth couldn't. I wrapped my arms around her as she sobbed into my torso. 

"I love you." I whispered as the tears began to fall.  

I rocked her back and forth, like a fragile new-born baby she was cradled in my arms. I held her closer to me than ever, she was morphing into me as my arms enveloped her. People were so wrong, when they say Grace is an insensitive robot they are so wrong. She's the strongest woman I know, she's phenomenal in every aspect of her life but when she falls she falls hard and today this was proven. 

I don't blame her, I was devastatingly heartbroken too but these things happen and there are ways around everything. I knew I had to be the brave one here, that if I was not the glue holding Grace together then she would collapse and never be able to bring herself back together again. So I remained strong, for days I held back my own tears in hope Grace would rebound from my strength and absorb it as her tears vanished. 

"I'm sorry." She whispered into my neck. 

"You have nothing to be sorry about. None of this is your fault Grace, you must know that." I hated seeing her like this. 

"I may never be able to have children Ches." 

I was startled by her words, we had never discussed children before. I knew that deep down Grace had always wanted to be a mother but I had never imagined her wanting me to be the father. Of course, raising a family with Grace would be incredible but we had never talked about anything like that although I was sure we both knew that if there was anyone we would have children with, it'd be each other. At first I was struck with a depressed feeling, I might never be a father. I clung to the word 'may'. As broken as I was I knew my optimism would come in handy here. I could grieve in my own time. I pulled Grace out from my embrace and held her close to me, I could see my reflection in her eyes. 

"You don't know that for sure Gracie. Nobody does. But we have to keep smiling, okay? You have to cling on to that hope like it's all that's keeping you together. You must stay positive; everything will be okay in the end. You, more than anyone, deserve a happy ending and I know you'll get it, just keep smiling."