The Healer | Part 3: The Survivors

Only Temporary

Edith

I was tired and sore when I walked through the front door of Falcon's Rest and I was trying as hard as I could not to let George see. At least, not immediately. It must be obvious that I had been crying, but I knew he was likely worried about me.

No surprise, he was already home and dressed in his pajamas. He was lounging on his recliner with the newspaper in front of him when I walked in. He folded it and stood up at once.

'Thank God you're home,' he exhaled and walked over to meet me at the door. 'I've been so worried. Are you alright?'

I bit my lip. I was barely holding myself together, I knew it wouldn't take much to start crying again.

'What's happened, sweetheart?' he said softly, bring a hand to my upper arm and stroking it through my coat.

'N-nothing,' I answered honestly. I took a few deep breaths and unbuttoned my coat. He took it from me and hung it on one of the pegs.

'You're upset,' he said.

'It's nothing new,' I assured him. 'Nothing you donna already know about.'

My mind was reeling as I attempted in my addled brain put together an explanation as what was going on without making him feel bad. I was having a hard time.

'Edith, talk to me,' he said softly. I looked into his eyes, he looked a bit desperate.

'It's...' I let out another deep breath and felt tears forming in my eyes. 'I just wish I wasn't pregnant right now.'

He said nothing and I wiped at my eyes. I tried to control my breathing, I really didn't want to start bawling my eyes out again. I'd been hard enough on George as it was.

'Did something happen?' He asked gently.

'I sat in on Healer Bidelspach's lessons today for Diagnostic Healing. She said it was the best time to examine the babies' full anatomy,' I explained.

'Are they alright?' He exclaimed, his eyes widening and darting to my tummy. I felt a surge of annoyance, though I didn't fully understand why.

'Aye, George, they're perfectly healthy,' I assured him.

'Then what's wrong?' He asked.

'It's just...' I paused to take another deep breath and think over my next few words. 'It just seems a lot more real now. They look like real babies.'

I bit my lip to keep from saying what I really wanted to. My life was ruined. I was going to have to give up school once the twins were born. George's life wasn't ruined. He already had a good job and he wasn't the one the boys would depend on like I was.

'But... that's a good thing?' He said it like it was a question.

'It's too soon!' I exclaimed, perhaps a little louder then I meant to. I lowered my voice. 'I mean, if it were five... even three years from now, it would be different,' I went on. 'It's just... it's really hard.'

He seemed to understand my meaning now. The boys were perfectly fine. But my time as an independent woman was almost up. And I was having a really hard time giving up my freedom.

'I'm sorry,' he said quietly, still looking me in the eyes. He cursed under his breath. 'I'm so sorry, Edith. If I had any idea how difficult this was going to be on you, I wouldn't have done it.'

'I didn't exactly stop you,' I tried a shaky smile.

'I could have let you do your charm,' he went on.

I let out another shaky breath.

'It's too late for any of that now,' I pulled away from him and slumped down on the sofa. He followed and sat beside me, placing his hand on my leg.