Shattered

Rock Bottom

Nathan

I have no idea what has gotten into Gem, but I got here just in time.

And there I was defying all the traffic laws thinking that this woman's life is in danger just to find that it's the other way around.

Now its rather awkward. Do I want to save the man who abused the woman I love?

I know how heartless it makes me seem that I'm even contemplating this, but he put Gemma through hell and back.

His bloody figure reminds me never to cross Gemma's boundaries. She seems to be calming down the more I speak to her.

Then she says something that shatteres every little piece that Elizabeth forgot to break.

"Maybe there is no longer your Gem" she says.

She walks up the three stairs that lead down the basement.

I begin to untie the man. He is panting for his life.

" I need you to disappear from our lives. You don't deserve Ethan and you sure as hell dont deserve his mother. I'm giving you five hours to be out of this country." I spit to his face.

He disgusts me. Its men like him that ruin the women in our community.

Its men like him that create low self esteem in women that are supposed to be cat walking down the streets because they are queens.

Before he can reply we hear a loud thud. For a moment I think that maybe Gem is getting her stuff and angrily is moving things.

I then remember that she left this room with a gun in hand,  what if she shot herself. Oh God! Oh shit! Get to her now.

I have no idea how and when I got up here but I find myself next to her limb body.

"Gem?" I check her pulse.

Good shes still breathing.

I hop into the car and I drive to the nearest hospital.

"In the next intersection turn left.  Then you have arrived at your destination. " Siri says.

I then turn left like she said. The hospital comes to view.

It's not as big as the one from New York, but it will do.

I park and bolt out. I pull her out from the back seats. I push my feet to run as fast as possible.

The moment I get to the receptionist there are already nurses that have gotten her out of my arms. I run after them.

Oh Gem. I hope I got here in time.

I sit by one of the chairs outside the ward. I dial Ari's number.

"Hello Nate?" She says sounding extremely bored.

"Ari, I went. I went to look for her and found her with the abusive boyfriend at gunpoint. He looked to be tortured . I tried to get her to stop but–"

"She shot him?" Ari asks .

"No , she just left . Then she fainted. I'm at the hospital right now. I'll bring her home later. Tell Janice to prepare my room." I tell her ending the call when I see a doctor leaving Gem's room.

"Evening doc." I bounce up like a bring.

"Ah, I was looking for you. Come." He instructs.

We walk into his office which is a few doors down. The room has a picture of a family and a Medical Certificate on the wall and that's just about it not including the book shelve.

"First, I would like to know the name of the patient. Then yours. And your relationship"

"Well her name is Gemima Summer. I am Nathan Meyer, she is my fiancee." I tell him.

"Oh, good. So basically what happened to your fiance is very common with people in her condition." He says.

Oh God,  what if he tells me that she has Cancer? My God.

"What's wrong with her? Is she dying?" I ask.

"No, oh no it's the opposite of that really.  She is fine." He says

"Then why are we here?" I ask.

"Well she fainted. I think you're got that part covered. It's because her blood pressure dropped from the common 120/80 mmHg  to a 89/70mmHg. " he says.

"Is there a reason?" I ask.

"Oh, so you aren't aware? Okay sir, this is completely normal for any woman who is pregnant. She is about three weeks pregnant." He says

"Three weeks?"

Three weeks. Then that means, that means that the baby is mine. I'm going to be a father?

Oh no, but what if she decides to abort the baby? She wanted nothing to do with me, will she want anything with my child?

"Yes sir. Congratulations. You can go see her  , she should be awake. If she is then you guys can go home.  Again congrats" He says

I walk down to the ward. My entire world has changed as of that moment. I am going to be a father. Wait, I'm already a father. Ethan is my son. I'm going to be a father of two.

I find Gem sitting and drinking water.

"Hi." I greet.

"What are you doing here?" She breathes.

So she didnt want to see me? Who did she want to see then?

"I'm here because I care about you. I want you to be alright." I tell her.

"Prepare yourself. We're going home." I tell her. She gets her stuff and stands.

The entire way to my car is in silence. I stare at her but she is looking the other way.

"Gem–"

I begin as we begin driving off. She looks at me.

"Nathan, you and I cant be together." She says.

What the fuck?

"What? What do you mean?" I ask.

"Ever since I came into your life bad things have been happening. My son has been kidnapped, I lost– I lost my kids. Fuck even Elizabeth came back. Dont you see? It's my fault." She cries.

"Its not . Its because of the people you had in your life Gem. I'm here to care for you. Because I'm not like them." I tell her.

"No Nathan. I'm tired of hurting you and the people in your life." She says.

Well then, they say if you love someone you have to let them go right?

"I love you." I tell her.

She stares at me.

"No! You dont get to do that Nathan! No." She says.

"I dont know what you want from me Gemima! I do I love you it's true. This is the most genuine my heart has ever been. I cant help it I love you.

And you know what?" I ask parking the car near her parents house.

"What Nathan? What?" She asks.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And it's because you make me happy. But I understand that you dont want me in your life. I do I get it. You know what the doctor said?" I ask her. She looks at me.

"What did he say?"

"He said you're pregnant. Three weeks." I tell her.

"Three weeks? Then its ..."

"Mine." I tell her. She nods.

She stares outside.

"I understand that you dont want me in your life. But please dont kick me out of my children's lives." I park and open the door for her.

"You'll pick Ethan up a week from now." I tell her as I start the car up again.

I peel off her driveway. I'm just glad that I got to tell her how I felt about her.

I love her.