The weight of secrets

Chapter 12

Lily went into labor on a quiet evening in late spring. Jobe was by her side in the hospital, his nerves on edge but his heart cautiously hopeful. He'd been attending every prenatal appointment, doing everything he could to prepare for fatherhood. Despite the chaos that had brought them here, Jobe was determined to be a good father and support Lily.

Jude, still grappling with his own complicated emotions, had stayed home. He couldn't bring himself to face it yet. Denise, sensing his turmoil, stayed with him, keeping the phone nearby for updates.

Hours passed in a blur of worry and anticipation. Then came the call—Jobe's trembling voice delivering the news.

A Heartbreaking Loss

"She's gone," Jobe whispered, his voice breaking over the phone. "The baby... she didn't make it."

Denise's hand flew to her mouth, her heart sinking. "Oh, Jobe..." she murmured, tears springing to her eyes.

Jude, who had been pacing in the living room, froze in place. His stomach churned at the weight of Jobe's words.

"They said... a cord complication," Jobe continued, barely audible. "There was nothing they could do."

Denise tried to console him, but Jobe hung up abruptly, his anguish palpable even through the phone.

The Aftermath

When Jobe returned home, he was a shadow of himself. His eyes were hollow, his movements sluggish. Lily had decided to stay with her parents for a while, needing space to grieve in her own way. Jobe didn't argue. He barely spoke at all.

Denise, though sympathetic, couldn't entirely suppress a flicker of relief. She hated herself for feeling it, but the complicated situation surrounding the baby had weighed on her deeply. The thought of a fresh start—free of the chaos—seemed cruelly tempting, though she would never admit it aloud.

Jude, however, saw nothing but his brother's pain. Despite their strained relationship, the sight of Jobe sinking deeper into despair was unbearable.

A Dangerous Spiral

Jobe's grief quickly turned into something darker. He stopped eating, stopped showering, stopped leaving his room. Denise tried coaxing him out, but he would only shake his head, staring blankly at the wall. Jude made a few half-hearted attempts to reach out, but the guilt and resentment between them made it difficult.

One evening, Denise knocked on Jobe's door and got no response. Alarmed, she pushed it open to find him lying on the bed, surrounded by empty pill bottles.

"Jobe!" she screamed, rushing to his side.

Jude ran in moments later, panic etched across his face. Together, they called an ambulance, their hearts racing as they tried to keep Jobe conscious.

Hospitalization and Sectioning

Jobe survived the overdose but was left in a fragile state, both physically and mentally. After a psychiatric evaluation, the doctors recommended he be sectioned under the Mental Health Act for his own safety.

Denise broke down when she heard the news, torn between heartbreak and guilt. "How did we let it get this far?" she whispered to Jude as they sat in the hospital waiting room.

Jude shook his head, his hands clenched into fists. "I should've done more," he muttered. "I saw it happening, and I just... I didn't know what to do."

When they visited Jobe in the psychiatric ward, he looked utterly defeated. His eyes were dull, his shoulders slumped. Seeing his brother like this shattered Jude in ways he hadn't expected.

Jude's Guilt

Jude sat by Jobe's hospital bed one evening, watching him sleep. The monitors beeped softly in the background, a constant reminder of how close they'd come to losing him.

"I'm sorry," Jude whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I was so angry at you, but I never wanted this. I never wanted you to feel like you didn't have anyone to turn to."

Jobe stirred slightly but didn't wake. Jude leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair.

"You're my brother," he continued, his voice cracking. "And no matter what's happened between us, I can't lose you. I won't."

A Family's Determination

Over the following weeks, the Bellingham family rallied around Jobe. Denise visited him every day, bringing homemade meals and encouraging words. Jude spent hours sitting with him, even when Jobe didn't say a word. Slowly, Jobe began to respond, his walls starting to crack under the weight of their love and persistence.

One evening, Jobe finally spoke to Jude, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Do you think she'd hate me?" he asked, tears welling in his eyes.

Jude frowned. "Who?"

"The baby," Jobe said, his voice trembling. "Do you think she'd hate me for not being better? For not protecting her?"

Jude's chest tightened, and he leaned forward, placing a hand on Jobe's shoulder. "No," he said firmly. "She wouldn't hate you. And neither do I."

Jobe looked up at him, his expression raw. "I don't deserve you, Jude. Or Mum. Or anything."

"You deserve a chance to get better," Jude said, his voice steady. "And we're going to help you get there. One step at a time."

A Fragile Hope

It was a long road to recovery, but Jobe slowly began to heal. Therapy sessions helped him unpack his grief and guilt, and the unwavering support of his family gave him a reason to keep going.

For Jude, the experience brought a newfound perspective. He realized that, despite everything, his love for his brother outweighed his anger. Life was too fragile, too fleeting, to hold onto grudges.

And though the pain of their shared past would never fully disappear, the bond between the Bellingham brothers began to mend, stronger than before. Together, they faced the future—uncertain, but united.