As He Held My Hand

Prologue

Prologue

"In a world full of heartbreak and love and loss, sometimes you just need someone to hold your hand. Remember that, Gemma. I love you." my mother spoke softly, kissing my forehead. I didn't want to leave her arms, though they did not feel like the warm comforting pair I'd known for my twelve years.

The nurse ushered me out of my mother's hospital room and into my Aunt Rebecca's arms. She scooped me up and carried me to her car. We drove home.

I never heard my mother speak another word. I never felt her arms around me again. I never heard the familiar sound of her voice whispering "I love you, my little gem."

She died later that night, while I was fast asleep in my bed, unable to help her. She died alone, with no one next to her bedside. I will never forget the way my aunt had a far away look in her eyes when she told me, or the way I couldn't stop crying. I will never forget how everything sounded muffled and distant, and how slowly time moved after that. It only lasted for a little while, but it felt like an eternity.

It was hard growing up without her, and no matter how hard my aunt tried, she would never come close to be a replacement. I loved my aunt, and she did so much for me, but it wasn't the same.

What my mother said before she died stuck with me over the next five years, and even though I rarely had someone to hold my hand, I still remembered it. I knew that someone wasn't going to hold my hand every step of the way in life, so I toughened up and hid my pain with sarcastic comments and a smile.

I made a friend, went to high school, did my work and studied for my tests, and applied for colleges. Now here I am in my senior year of high school, and the last thing I expected to find was a type of romance and friendship that I would remember for the rest of my life.

A/N ~ New Story! This story is not going to be revolving around the death of Gemma's mom or her grief, I just wanted to give some background for Gemma. This story is about Gemma and Grant forming a friendship that may or may not morph into something more... ;) So please enjoy and just remember that this is a romance, filled with sarcastic comments, a bit of swearing, and maybe even some hand-holding.