Connie still sat motionless by Grace's side.
She hadn't moved from that chair by Grace's hospital bed all day.
It was painful for Jacob - he was watching the two most important people in his life disappear before his eyes.
It was still unknown if Grace would pull through, she was still in a critical condition and all they could do for now was wait.
Jacob couldn't even begin to imagine how hard this must be for Connie, but he was going to be here for her every step of the way.
The only issue was, that Connie refused to let him in.
Though despite Connie's refusal, Jacob still wouldn't leave her. He had no intention to move, he would just wait.
3 hours later, Connie finally left Grace's bedside.
She began to walk, slow and unsteady, towards the door, and Jacob didn't hesitate to rush forward to assist her tired body with the last remaining steps.
The pair stood side by side in silence, both looking into the room through the large window.
"You need to rest Connie." Jacob said gently.
"I'm fine." was all that Connie mumbled in reply.
Jacob sighed and let the silence surround them again for a while.
Jacob turned his head towards Connie beside him, but she failed to react, and her glassy eyes remained focused forward.
"Do you need me to go home and get anything?" he asked her.
Connie merely shook her head.
"Do you need-"
"I don't need anything!" Connie finally acknowledged him by glancing in his direction, but interrupted Jacob harshly.
Jacob nodded slowly, as Connie turned back to the window.
"It's ok to accept help sometimes Connie. I know you think you can do this on your own, but you can't." Jacob hesitantly broke the silence again.
It was clear Connie didn't want to talk, but he had to do something to help her.
"I'm coping fine." Connie retorted stubbornly.
She didn't want anyone's concern and sympathy, she didn't need anyone's help.
"You're not fine." Jacob argued gently. "Right now, your daughter is laying in that hospital bed fighting for her life. She has a serious brain injury and no one knows if she is going to make it out of this alive."
Jacob paused and studied Connie's face, which still faced forward, but now had tears flowing freely from her eyes, leaving trails as they travelled in small streams down her bruised cheeks.
Jacob knew this could go one of two ways, but he continued anyway, pointing to where Grace's small body rest.
"Now you tell me, how any mother could say they're coping, if their little girl was going through that. You tell me, how you can say you're fine, watching your little girl going through this. The fact is Connie, you can push everyone away and you can pretend you're alright, but the truth is, you're not fine, are you?" Jacob took a deep breath and watched carefully for Connie's reaction.
Connie couldn't say a word.
She wanted to shout, she couldn't believe that Jacob dared speak to her like that.
But she couldn't, because she knew deep down that he was right.
She wasn't fine and she needed Jacob right now.
Jacob watched as Connie slowly turned towards him, tears still flowing from her glazed eyes.
He opened his arms, letting Connie's limp body fall into them.
Jacob held Connie's shaking body tightly against his as she broke down in tears, finally letting her emotions out.
"Remember that time I told you that you're not on your own, because I'm here?" Jacob whispered, once Connie had began to calm.
Connie nodded slightly.
Jacob continued gently, while rubbing his hand gently up and down Connie's back.
"Well I meant it Connie. You will never be on your own, because I'm always going to be here."
