Unconditional Love

Moment of Bliss

Holding Grace's hand to ease her quiet fears, Connie also gripped on to Jacob's who brought her the comfort and support she would never admit she needed. Grace had been recovering as well as they'd hoped, and physically all that could be seen were the faint lines where her skin had healed over deeper lacerations yet neither one of them could help but think negatively, continuously anticipating what unexpected bad news may come their way.

Connie frequently reassured her daughter that everything was okay while attempting to convince herself of the same- after a number of tests and precautions taken the medical staff were still unsure as to why Grace blacked out before the accident. They had ruled it as dehydration with no other causes being plausible. Still, it wasn't enough to settle Connie's inquiring mind as she studied Grace's notes in detail, willing for them to make sense.

After a lengthened silence and anxious wait, the doctor who had been overlooking Grace's treatment entered the room with an expression that the three of them struggled to read.

"What? What is it?" Connie asked, trying to mask the worry in her voice.

"Well, Grace unfortunately it seems like we're going to have a much quieter ward from now on. You're all set to go." He winked with a smile, received with responses of gratitude and relief as Grace, considering her recent injuries, left the bed with much more energy than the others were expecting, eager to leave the dull hospital room that provided her with nothing but boredom and painful memories. She winced ever so slightly and was met with the concern in Connie's face.
"Grace, darling, be careful. You've still got a little more recovering to do."

"Mum, I'm fine" She sighed. "The doctor said."

"Yes well I'll administer some painkillers just in case, but you should feel right as rain soon enough."

Connie took the prescription from the doctor and held his hand while she expressed a soft "Thank you" which he understood as her thanking more than his last comment.

Following a short goodbye to the other staff members on the ward, they headed towards the exit, Grace holding tightly onto her mother until reaching Connie's car. The journey to the car park took twice as long as normal with the ED nurses and doctors taking their turn in wishing Grace well as they walked by.

Connie began packing Grace's belongings from her fornight stay into the boot of the car as Grace had already made herself comfortable in the passenger seat. Distracted, Connie was oblivious to Jacob who was now stood close behind her and her breath hitched in her throat when he turned her by her wrist in a swift movement so that she was facing him. Inches away from each other, he leaned and rested his head against hers.

Her head told her to move away, to push him back because Grace was right there, but his gentle touch against her lips kept her in her place. Connie, closed her eyes as she returned his affection and brought her hands round to his neck as he held her waist. She could feel him beginning to break away and ached as their moment of bliss passed so quickly. She longed to tell him how much he meant to her but as she was still unaware that Grace had altered her opinion about them as a couple, she bit her lip to stop the words from escaping and painfully watched him walk away after he whispered softly "Call me if you need anything, sweet cheeks."