Cliché Love

#13 Loved Enough

"Bethany, love?" He called out to her, her face looked pale and troubled as he took hesitant steps towards her.
"Wh-Who are you?" She asked whilst clearing her throat.

His body froze as he took in her words, who is he? He pondered the different possible answers to her inquiry. He looked deeper in her eyes to see if she was humouring him but was left stunned at the question floating around in her azure eyes.
Who was he?

"Beth, I-" He didn't know how to finish his unsettling reply.

"Mom, who is he?" She looked at the wiser woman behind him. He couldn't stand the look in her eyes as he seated himself on the cold chair beside her.
He had grown accustomed to the chairs over the few months he had spent sitting there and contemplating existence.

"Honey, he is your husband." He looked up at the older lady, her eyes shinning with tears as she looked at him for assistance but he gave none, still shocked at the impending doom.
"And the father of your two children." Mrs Johnson continued, knowing he didn't have it in him to blurt out the words.

"I-I'm married?" The disgust in her voice made him cringe as it did many years prior.

Her ideas of marriage had been revolting but she changed after he had spent couple of years around her, she had grown to love him and had went hand in hand in their forever.
He had been very nervous when he had proposed the idea of commitment but when she met him half way, nothing could've made him happier.
But now, sitting still in a slouched position he asked himself where he'd go now, what he'd do next but no answer graced his presence.

Not being able to take the hurtful words of his wife he stood up to leave.
"Ma, I'll be out. I'll have a word with the doctor." He stated as he spared his confused wife another painful glance and walked out.

"Daddy! Can we seen mommy now? Joanna and I made her a card!" His seven year old son tugged at his leg showing him a card with scribbles on them and a big heart with kisses around it signed by him and his sister of a tender age of four.

"You'll see her soon enough, big guy. She needs to rest now, okay? She has had a very long journey and will talk to you very soon." His heart broke at the crestfallen expression of his children.

"Did mommy miss us?" He didn't know what to say at the innocent question of a four year old.
"Very much and she can't wait to see you, princess. How about you both go with Aunt Ellie to get mommy her favourite flowers?"

"Yes! Orchids! Mommy loves them!" He looked at his kids skipping away to his sister whilst muttering about the perfect way to welcome their mom home.

He couldn't find it in his heart to tell them about her accident. He had mentioned that she had visited a place and was very tired. Though he knew Casper, his son, hardly believed him and was astounded at his maturity as he stayed quiet about his opinions so as to not break his sister's heart.

He shook his head and travelled on to the doctors office.
"Yes, Mr Latimer." The doctor had looked at him with pity but had spoken only a few words.

"I just wanted to ask about a solution, a way out of this. I can't tell my kids their mother doesn't remember them nor does she want to see them."
"Sir, her situation is very delicate, her notions differ too much from what they were before. Right now, you can either slowly ease her into understanding or wait for to remember. It is awfully hard to gauge the time." The experienced doctor helped very little as he didn't say words to lighten up the mood but to further depress the already weakened soul.

He left the office feeling even less motivated to live his life. But one look at his children holding a bouquet in their hands turned his world around.
When he walked into the ward, he had a new purpose.

"Ma, can I talk to her alone for a minute?"

"No! You can't possibly agree to this mom!" His wife screeched from the hospital bed where she now sat up straight.

"Be careful, Jack. She is not too up for an adventure." The elderly woman muttered in his ear as she left them to be.

"I don't want to hear an-"
"We have two children, Beth. And they are very eager to see their mother. You can hate me as much as you want, hate our marriage too. But please, our four year old daughter wants to meet you, grant her one wish?" She looked stunned at the man infront of her, he looked so determined. And his voice held so much of pain, she just nodded her head.

"What's their names?" She asked, feeling a bitter emotion in her heart for not remembering the name of her progeny.

"Casper is our seven year old son and Joanna is four." He replied.
"I'm bringing them in. Please, they have been wanting to meet you for days at a stretch so be kindly." He recalled her thoughts on marriage and children and had chosen his words to suit that context.

He poked his head out of the door and called out to them.
"Be very careful now, okay? Mommy is still very tired." He instructed them as they nodded their heads obediently.

"Mommy!" She heard two shrieks as the door was pushed open wider.
A small girl with pigtails siding her face came skipping and handed her a card.

She looked down at it and let out a gasp, an unknown feeling of happiness came over her as she saw the smile of her daughter.
"We made this for you and we even got you your favourite flowers!" Casper handed her the bouquet and gave her a hug.

"We missed you!" They both chorused.
In the corner, Jack stood not believing his eyes at her reaction to the kids. She had taken them in with open arms, a true meaning of mother's love showered over him.

"I missed you both too." She muttered back, hugging them lightly.
"Okay, come on, let's get you both to Aunt Ellie. Mommy and I need to talk. " Jack ushered them out as they grumbled.

"They are lovely." Bethany spoke in a hushed tone.

"Yes, they are."

"I'm sorry to have acted the way I did before."

"It isn't your fault."

Fate chooses its losers.

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