Shattered

Hart's Story

I wake up to find that Ethan has snuggled between us. Gem's arm is over Ethan's body protectively.

She isn't sleeping though, her eyes are bloodshot and shes staring at the boy as if he's going to disappear any moment now.

Under her eyes are eye bags. The face that was once so full of life is just... lifeless.

She looks so odd without a smile creasing her face. Her beautiful chocolate orbs are dull.

Usually filled with joy and sunshine, they are now hard. Like when you put chocolate in the freezer for too long.

A tear escapes her eye and my hand instinctively goes up and wipes it away.

Mid-action, while my hand is only inches from her face, she flinches. Fear settles in her eyes.

"I'm not going to hurt you... or Ethan." I say in the calmest voice I can master.

Her once tightly shut eyes open and a flood of tears fall onto the pillow.

The pillow is literally drenched. 

I put my hand over hers and I caress it. I watch as her eyes change from that cold stare to pain. She looks pained.

This goes deeper than I realise. I just know it.

Ethan stirs in his sleep. I know that in about ten to twenty minutes he'll wake up. So I wake up.

Her eyes are questioning. As if she want to ask me where I'm headed but her body refuses to respond to her command.

"I'm going to make you and the champ over there breakfast." I say.

She doesnt acknowledge what I've said to her. She just turns direction and stares outside at the beautiful garden.

I get to the kitchen. Panick settles in my chest.

I have zero knowledge in what I'm going to make. Usually I'll just have some cereal while Charlotte is making oat meal for Ethan . But today Charlotte isn't here. What am I going to do.

Gosh, I'm freaking out.

First I brew some coffee. I barely function without a cup or two in the morning.

Saturday mornings are usually filled with Charlotte's stories about her online classes.

But today my house is quiet. No sign of life is in it.

I find a recipe book in one of the drawers and I flip through to find the easiest to bake.

Ahh, Pancakes.  Shouldn't be so hard.

I quickly mix the flour, baking soda, salt and sugar in one bowl.

Four eggs, two cups of milk, a spoon of oil and a spoon of vanilla essence in another. And I mix away.

By the time I'm done cleaning up. Mrs Hart walks in.

"What is this I am seeing?" She says smiling.

"I tried to make breakfast." I give her a shy smile.

"Okay. I see you. Do you need any help? I could bathe Ethan." She offers.

I give her a reassuring nod. She happily goes up.

And she does just that.

A few minutes after I'm done cleaning. I go up to check on Gem.

She is in the position that I left her in. It surprises me that she hasn't woken up to shower yet.

"Gem? Come, I made breakfast. " I tell her. She doesnt say anything.

I stand up and I head to the bathroom. I run water into the tun and alot of bubble bath.