An Unexpected Mystery (DISCONTINUED)

7

Avery

My awakening was slow, and my surroundings felt unfamiliar. The soft, muted light filtering through the curtains was the first thing I noticed. Then, the steady beeping of monitors nearby. Panic set in as my foggy mind tried to make sense of it all.

Where was I? What happened?

As I tried to sit up, a dull ache coursed through my body, and I winced, my hands instinctively reaching for my head. The memories of the mountain hike and my subsequent collapse slowly trickled back into my consciousness. But there were gaps, missing pieces of the puzzle, and I couldn't make sense of it all.

With great effort, I turned my head to the side and gasped at the sight that greeted me—Grayson, my loving husband, was sitting in a nearby chair, his appearance disheveled, and his eyes filled with an unbearable sadness. He looked like he hadn't slept or eaten properly in days.

"Grayson?" I croaked, my voice barely audible.

His head snapped up at the sound of my voice, and for a moment, he looked stunned, as if he couldn't believe his eyes. Then, his face broke into a mixture of relief and overwhelming emotion.

"Avery," he whispered, his voice trembling, and he rushed to my side, taking my hand in his.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I struggled to understand what was happening. "What...what happened? Where are we?"

Grayson's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he gently explained, "You collapsed on the mountain, Avery. We had to bring you back here to Hawthorne House. You've been unconscious for a while."

The pieces of the puzzle slowly fell into place, and I remembered the hike, the pain, and then...nothing. The fear for Grayson's well-being and my own surged back, and I squeezed his hand tightly.

"Are you okay?" I asked, my voice filled with concern.

He gave me a trembling smile, but his eyes remained haunted. "I'm okay, Avery. I've been by your side the entire time."

I couldn't help but feel a rush of gratitude and love for Grayson, who had been there for me through this ordeal. But the sadness in his eyes weighed heavily on my heart, and I knew there was more to this story than he was letting on.

As I continued to gather my strength, I turned my attention to our unborn child, the precious life growing within me. "Grayson," I began, my voice quivering, "what about the baby? Is the baby okay?"

Tears welled up in his eyes once again, but this time, they spilled over. "Avery, we were so worried about you both. But the doctors have been monitoring the baby, and... and they're okay. They're strong, just like their mother."

Relief washed over me, but it was mingled with a profound sense of gratitude and responsibility. Our unborn child had weathered this storm with us, and I knew I had to be strong for them and for Grayson.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion. "I ruined our honeymoon."

Grayson's eyes filled with tears as he leaned in and gently kissed my forehead. "Avery, the only thing that matters is that you're safe. We can always have another honeymoon, but I couldn't bear to lose you."

In that moment, as we held each other's gaze, I knew that our love was unbreakable, and we would face whatever challenges lay ahead together, stronger and more resilient than ever before.

~ x ~

The tender moment we shared was broken when Grayson gently pulled away and said, "Avery, I should get the doctors. They need to check on you and make sure you're alright."