Fragile | (Brahms Heelshire)

Chapter 1 - Threat

"She wasn't sad anymore. She was numb and she knew somehow numb was worse." -Atticus-

Looking at herself in the mirror, Gemma sighed deeply as she started applying the finishing touches of eyeliner to her eyes.

It had been at least two weeks since the hospital and today would be the funeral for her 1-year-old nephew, Finn.

It would be starting in the next hour from what her dad told her yesterday.

The sudden ringing of her mobile from across the room had made her jump, lightly jabbing herself in the eye with the eyeliner

With a sharp hiss, she rose to her feet, walking with a limp from her still-healing PCL injury in her left knee, before she retrieved the mobile from her handbag.

Peering down at the caller ID she saw it was her mum calling.

Probably to remind her about today as Gemma had been struggling with remembering dates and times for the last two weeks.

She didn't want to leave her house.

Not with reporters always wanting to ask her questions she really didn't want to answer.

She lost her nephew due to a  reckless 18-year-old boy who was driving under the influence of alcohol.

She would soon have to testify against him in court in two days.

She just wanted to be left alone, why was that so hard for them to understand?

Pressing the button to answer her mum's call, she rested it against her ear as she sat down at the edge of her bed.

"Hi, mum," Gemma replied.

"Hello, Dear. How are you fairing this morning?"

As Gemma started at the very noticeable brace on her knee, she bit the inside of her cheek before responding with, "I managed to hobble--er, I mean walk across my room to answer your call."

"That's good. That's good. So, the medicine the doctor prescribed for you is working, then?"

"I, uh, I actually didn't take it this morning," Gemma admitted, already knowing she was going to receive an earful.

"Gemma," Her mum scolded.

"I know. I know. I thought maybe I could fight through the pain. I can't rely on pain meds forever."

"The doctor only said for the next 12 weeks at best. You're not relying on them, sweetheart. You need them."

Gemma sighed.

She knew her mum was right, but it didn't feel right to her.

The pain was unbearable, but at times it made her feel like she deserved to feel the pain after what happened.

She felt people were being too lenient with her, too nice.

She didn't feel like she deserved that.

Even her job at the nursing home gave her personal paid time off until she felt like she was ready to come back, even when she told them she would be back as soon as her knee healed.

She didn't need the pitiful looks or the "I'm sorry for your loss" she wanted someone to tell her the truth.

That it was her fault.

With her hand balled into a fist with her fingernails biting into the skin of her palm, she decided to break the awkward silence by asking the most important question.