Cardigan

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Elle POV

The plane ride home felt like it didn't want to end. Charles hadn't let go of my hand he didn't think twice before grabbing our things and getting us out of the club.

Max had the plane sorted for us. Arthur insisted he came along they hadn't spoken a single word since we got on the flight, not knowing what to say, and I couldn't form a sentence myself I try but no words come out.

For some reason, this felt different, I had a sinking feeling in my stomach, and a feeling I wanted to ignore it was the same feeling I had got when my mother passed away.

As much as i loved my mother, me and my father and I were always closer. I was daddy's little girl his Tinkerbell. All I wanted was to be in his arms right now and for him to tell me everything's going to be okay that he's alright. I wanted everything to go back to normal.

Charles would squeeze my hand every now and again to remind me that he's there.

The plane hit the ground. I didn't want to get off. I wanted to stay here, and then everything wouldn't be real. But I had to. I had to know what was happening. I had to know if he was okay.

"Cheri," Charles softly says, I nod, getting up from my seat every step I took felt as if rocks were in my pockets trying to hold me down.

The drive to the hospital was short but felt long, just like the plane journey.

"We're here," Arthur says as we walk into the hospital. Pascale spots us right away and wraps her arms around me.

"I'm so sorry they wouldn't tell me anything,'

"It's okay," the first words I've said in hours. I make my way over to the doctor.

"I'm here about Jeremy Beaumont,"

"What's your relation to the patient,"

"I'm his daughter," he nods, taking me into a room. There, my father lead hooked up to machines it all seemed like deju vu.

"Your fathers lungs collapsed on him," the doctor begins. "We put him on a ventilator as he was struggling to breathe on his own."

"Is he okay now whys he still got it?"

"Unfortunately, when we tried to take the ventilator off, we faced the same issues he can no longer breathe without aid," I wipe the tear that had fallen down my cheek "of course we will keep him on the ventilator but it won't do anything apart from prolong him being here,'

"Are you saying that without it, he'll die?"

"That is what I'm saying," the doctor says. "It is your choice whether you want to keep him on the ventilator or take him off of it,"

"You mean it's my choice whether he lives or dies," I couldn't do this, not to him.

"I'll give you some privacy," the doctor walked out.

I walked over, crawling into bed with him resting my head on his chest his heart was still beating. I lay there crying, not knowing what to do.

My father was my whole world and the only family I had left. He did everything for me after my mother passed he made sure I was okay he looked after me, and now his life was in my hands.

I wasn't strong enough for this. I lay there not moving my hand holding his as my head lay on his chest, taking in every moment I could get.

Charles POV

"She's not come back out," I say "she's been alone in there for a while maybe we should check on her," I say standing up my mother placing a hand on my arm.

"Give her some time. I'm sure whatever the doctor has said isn't easy for her,"

"I just hate the fact that she's in there alone,"

"I know, sweetie, but all we can do is be here for her now. Please sit back down," I nod, taking my seat Arthur patting my back he was also worried about both of them.

The door to his room opens, and Elle slowly walks out he tear stained face red I wanted to wrap my arms around her and take her home but I knew I couldn't I knew she had something to say and it didn't look easy.

"He's on a ventilator his lungs collapsed," she says. "He can't breathe alone, and they said its in my hands whether or not I switch his machine off,' a sob comes out of her mouth as I catch her in my arms. I place my head in the croak of her neck, tears in my eyes at not only the girl in my arms but for the man in the hall across the room.

"I don't know what to do," she cried. "Either way, he's not coming back to me," I felt her pain I knew exactly how this felt "do I leave him in that room because I'm afraid of losing him or do I turn his life support off and let him be at peace," I stroak her hair "how do they expect me to make that decision,"

My mother takes her from my arms and into her.

"You've got us, ma Belle," she says. "we will be by your side whatever decision you choose, but it is your choice, and you can take your time," Elle nodded, wrapping her arms around my mother she looked so broken and fragile I wish I could protect her from the pain but unfortunately I cannot.