The End Where I Begin (Book Four of the Glen Power Series)

Chapter 11

“Emie? Emie? Can you hear me? I need you to open your eyes now.”

I groan, fuzzy headed. Where am I? What the hell happened? I can barely remember what was going on before I...

I dropped. I fell into Glen's arms after a massive argument that I can't even explain. I was so angry. Why was I so angry? And the pain...So much pain in my stomach...

I shoot up, feeling a hand gently stopping me from going too far. When I realise that it's Glen's, I grab his face for comfort. Searching his eyes, all I see is worry. I pull him close, needed to feel his lips on mine. Just to know I'm still alive...

My babies!

I pull away harshly, whimpering as the realisation hits me hard. I open my mouth to speak but he shakes his head. Not in an 'all is lost' way. But in a 'no news yet' way. I'm not sure how to take that. Is no news good news?

“Mr and Mrs Power?”

We turn our heads to look at the doctor. I feel Glen's hand grip mine as I mentally come to grips with what could be coming. My heart is racing like never before. My babies could be dead. Again. I could have failed them. Again...Oh please...Please don't tell me....

“Your babies are fine.”

The air in my lungs wheezes out of me in relief, sobs pushing themselves out of my body. They're alive. Glen's hand buries itself in my hair as he cries, kissing my face over and over. We're still parents. I don't think I've ever had such a feeling as I do right now. I didn't kill my babies.

“I'm so sorry,” I sob to Glen. “I'm so sorry, baby.”

“It's okay. Everything is okay.”

“Well, everything isn't okay.”

The doctors voice rings through the air, halting our tears in their track. What does he mean? I blink at him, trying to clear my blurry vision.

“What...” I stutter.

“It's not my place to ask what happened last night,” the doctor says firmly. “But what I can tell you is that you reached an extraordinarily high level of stress. Your body cannot handle that amount of stress. I warned you when you first came to visit me. You need to keep all risks of anxiety to a minimum. And whatever happened last night set you off to a dangerous point. It cannot happen again.”

“What happened to her?” I hear Glen whisper.

“The ulcer is back. It has been there for a while. It was on the verge of rupturing when she arrived here. But the fact that she blacked out decreased the stress levels in her body, causing the ulcer to stabilise. Passing out saved her life. She will be on antibiotics for the next couple of weeks to reduce it back to a normal stage. But I'm not sure if it will go away fully for as long as you're pregnant. You're lucky you brought her here when you did, Mr Power. You could have lost them all.”

I feel numb. How did I let it get to this? Why did I let myself get so angry? Just because Glen said no. What kind of person makes that big of a deal out of something like that?

“There's something wrong with me,” I whisper.

“I'm not saying that...”

“I couldn't stop it. I couldn't stop my temper. He did nothing wrong, but I couldn't stop it. I don't know how to stop it.”

“Babe, this is my fault...”

“No, it's not. This is my fault. I should never have reacted that way. You have every right to say no to me...”

“So...This was a sexual incident?” We both nod. A cough confirms his embarrassment.“Okay. Well. Yes. I think...this is the perfect case for our therapist...”

Therapist? What the hell is he on? Why can't we just talk this through with him?

“He's an expert on the more...complex situations,” the doctor continues quickly. “He's heard it all. So I'm sure that he will be able to give you some sound advice. I'll go and see if he's free now.”

And he's out the door quicker than I can blink. I can't stop the giggle that comes from my throat. God damn these hormones...

“Did you see the look on his face?” I giggle childishly. “It's like he's never had sex before.”

“Hmm.”

I turn my head to him and see the heartbreak in his eyes. I can't stand to see him like this. I tip his chin up with my finger and grin at him.

“Hey, it's okay,” I soothe. “They're okay. We're okay.”

“Are we though?”

“Of course we are. Why wouldn't we be?”

“My refusal nearly killed you, Em.”

“But it didn't.”

“It could have. D'you know how that makes me feel?”

“I just...Glen...”

“What if, one day, I can't do it? I'm too tired, or just can't physically make myself do it? What's going to happen then? How are we going to figure this out, Emie?”

He's right. We do need to start thinking of this. This is a serious issue. I'm not myself in that moment, and I can't control my emotions. I'm going to do whatever I can to get what I want in that moment, with no thoughts on how he feels. The strain this is going to put on him is unthinkable. What the hell are we going to do?

“I don't know.”

He sighs, resting his head on my forehead. The defeat I can feel from him is unlike anything I've ever felt. Usually I can take this feeling away. But I can't. Not this time.

Running my hands across his face, I feel his arms snake around me gently. He leans into my touch, kissing my palms lovingly as he makes his decision.

“I'll just have to make sure I can always be there for you. No matter how tired I am. I'll have to do it.”

“No, Glen...”

“You're my life, Emie. Without you, I'm nothing. So if killing myself saves you, then so be it.”  

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A/N - A lot of people guess right for this. Emie's stomach ulcer is back. And the only way to keep it from rupturing is...Well yes, I think you can guess now. What the hell that going to do to them? Please let me know what you think of this! buddybear got the answer right first, so this chapter goes out to her! Well done to everyone though! Vote, comment, do your thing guys. Much love x