Finally

Part 34: Desolate Destruction of Duties

I'm cruel.

Loathed.

Perfect.

Maybe that hate will bring her closer to him.

That doesn't mean I'm not hurting. I am.

I'm hurting terribly.

"Well?" Adrian, Iggy, Lauren, and Floyd all stare at me for a few moments as I stop inside the staff lounge.

"Congratulations-she hates me." I say blandly and push passed them to sit down. Flopping myself down hard in the armchair, I cover my eyes with my one hand and try to calm myself.

"Max- I know this seems counterproductive, but trust the...."

"If you say the process one more time today- I will stab you with a needle in the neck." I sit up quickly and nearly lunge out of my seat at Lauren.

"Woah...just calm down Max- she knows what she's talking about." Iggy says unhelpfully so.

"You were no help! You were supposed to be the one to do it! To force him on her! You chose that position and you failed!" Standing up like a rocket, I get in his face.

"No—I was supposed to get her to open up and then ease the baby into her. You just went of half cocked on your own and forced her."

"ENOUGH! Both of you are idiots!" Floyd erupts and we all look at him. "The plan was ridiculous from the start! All you've guys have been doing is hurting your friend! She needed time to heal! She needed time to communicate her feelings. You all just jumped in asses first and made it worse! How was making her feel abandoned and weak and cornering her supposed to make her connect with the poor child? How was any of this supposed to help?! Answer me that!!"

"Well...we'll...um...psychologically speaking..."

"Shut up!" He booms at Iggy. "All your doing is straining her very fragile heart! Causing her more pain! If she doesn't want to connect with the baby- the fine! That's on her! Medically you can help with therapy and anti depressants—but ya'll are pulling some tv drama bullshit on her and it isn't working!!"

"It is working though." Out of nowhere, Emily speaks up. We find her leaning against the doorframe and even Adrian is taken aback by it. "I've been where she is. Different circumstances- but I've known the feelings. As awful as it sounds, Floyd: sometimes you need to push. I was pushed and honestly- at first I hated my sister for doing it- but I thank her everyday because I know if she didn't force me to bond with Levi- I wouldn't be doing any of it today. I don't know if I would've got through it if she hadn't. He might've ended up living with my Mom or my sister after all was said and done. And having come to know Helen- I feel she is the same. Stubborn and cautious- but wanting. She wants to physically love him. I know she does. But she is so scared that she might not actually love him to ever actually try and find out."

"And ruining her relationship with Max? Is that for the best too?" Floyd growls and she looks at me sadly.

"If the rest of the plan works- the relationship will heal quickly."

"Just because it worked for you and your sister- doesn't mean it'll work for Max. Your sister is just that- a blood relative. A friend. What is Max? A friend, a love interest? There's no guarantee it'll fix itself." Floyd states and I shaje my head sadly.

"If it fixes her and the baby's relationship...then that's all that matters: now isn't it." I say softly. A great sadness pushing through my body.

"Max..."

"I love Helen. I will admit coming back from what I've been through hasn't been easy without her. And what she's going through isn't easy either. So...if making her hate me gets her over the hill and back to how she should be- a mother...then I will sacrifice what I can to make that happen. If hating me means loving her baby more- then so be it." It's sad that this has to be done. It's horrible that I have to go through this and put myself away into a little box for Helen to push through, but I would do anything for her. Absolutely anything.