My Own Worst Enemy

Tragedy

Grace rubbed her eyes, seeing 2:04am flash on the hotel clock. Having three jobs was killing her, but she had to do it for her son. It was the only way they'd survive money-wise.

Gracie let out a huge yawn before moving her status to inactive and grabbing her keys, her heart bursting at her smiley baby boy gracing her phone screen.

"Hey Kate! I am on my way. Thank you so much. I'll watch Alynn on my next day off," Grace thanked her dear friend profusely as she put on a cardigan and exchanged her heels for flats, impatiently starting her car and speeding to Coon Rapids to pick up her baby.

Though the past six months have been some of the hardest in her life, she wouldn't trade it for anything. She got to see her baby boy grow up and she got to see his bright smiles.

He was her light, and he gave her the will to get her work done.

***

Grace pinched her wrist to wake her up. 30 minutes, Grace. You've got this.

Grace knocked on her friends apartment door, wrapping her small son in her arms and kissing his chubby cheeks as he snoozed.

"Thank you," she mouthed to her friend and gave her a tight hug before going back to her car.

"Goodnight, mama's love," Grace whispered and tucked him into his car seat.

Gracie repeatedly had to shock herself awake. She was four blocks from home when the blinding lights of an SUV rushing towards her backseat.

"El," she mumbled and, knowing there'd be an impact, swerved her car hard. She couldn't let her baby get hurt. If it was the last thing she did...

She braced herself for the impact, her life moving in slow motion as her hips crashed into the steering wheel and her head rocketed against the speedometer.

She could hear Elliot screaming in the background as the world faded around her.

He's alive.

Was her last thought as she succumbed to the throbbing pain.

***

Christian stared at the woman in his bed, feeling absolutely nothing. In the six months since Grace rightfully left him, he'd done nothing but pretend. He went back to Marilyn and pretended to want her.

He pretended that he'd one day love her. But he felt nothing, and he missed his son.

Christian's stupor was disrupted by the harsh vibrating of his phone on his nightstand.

"Hello?" He answered quietly, moving out of bed to his living room.

"Hi, is this Christian Yelich?" The voice on the other side of the phone asked, causing Christian to roll his eyes.

"How did you get this number?" He asked pulling joggers and a t-shirt.

"This is Callie Armstead from Fairview medical center in Minneapolis. I have you listed as the emergency contact for Elliot Yelich," she explained further.

"Wh-What happened? Is he okay?" Christian asked, his heart falling to his feet. His baby boy... his Elliot.

"He was involved in an automobile crash with his mother early this morning. I can provide more details when you arrive," she informed him, leaving him with those minute details.

Christian was frozen, his heart stuttering in his chest. He had to get to Minneapolis. He had to see his son.

Christian booked the next flight out, his eyes filling with tears as he packed.

"Marilyn you need to leave. I have to fly out," he said shakily, close to breaking. His son. Gracie.

He needed to be there.

Marilyn frowned and gently kissed his shoulder, reaching down to stroke his dick.

"Baby, I want to stay with you," she whispered.

"You need to leave," he said again, throwing everything he could into a duffle bag. He had to get out of here.

"Babe..."

"Leave, Marilyn," he snapped, tears in his eyes. He felt slightly bad for treating her like this, but his baby boy was hurt.

Marilyn scoffed and got dressed, storming out in anger.

Christian would be lying if he said he wasn't relieved. He needed to get to his baby boy now.

***

Christian ran into the hospital, his breaths heaving.

"I...I'm Elliot Yelich's father. I was told he was here. Where is he?" Christian begged, his hands absolutely trembling.

"Pediatrics. I'll have Lexi take you," the elderly nurse behind the counter smiled in a calming manner.

Christian looked to where she pointed and nodded, matching said nurse step for step until he landed in the PICU.

"Is he okay? What happened?" He asked, his eyes settling on the sleeping boy.

"He's doing great, just a few scrapes and bruises. The drivers side took most of the impact," the nurse smiled softly. "You can pick him up."

Christian nodded and gently pulled the boy in his arms, tears finally breaking free as the baby wrapped his arms around his dad.

"Daddy's big boy. You're okay... I'm right here," he soothed, kissing his cheek. "You're okay."

The nurse was explaining more, but Christian wasn't listening. Until she mentioned Grace.

"Mama isn't as in good of shape. We can release Elliott and take you to her room, if you'd like," the nurse suggested, noting the desperation in his eyes.

Gracie was hurt