He Gives Me Bruises.

Chapter Twenty Eight🔐

Randomly dedicated to QueensVarice, xDontCallMeAngelxx, WoodZac, GladysAbire

Grace's P.O.V

My feet were digging scuff marks into the linoleum flooring as I paced back and forth. I had one hand folded over my stomach and the other nervously twirling hair at the nape of my neck. I was an anxious wreck. My stomach clenched and churned as my imagination ran wild with scenarios. I saw a vision of Levi in an unconscious state while nurses hoovered over him. Their expressions grim, stripped of any hope. Other times, I saw him crying in an empty room. No one was around to comfort him and his wheeze was even worse than before.

What if he isn't okay? What's going to happen to him? How could I have let this happen?

That last thought was a personal scold and I cringed internally. I was trying hard to retrain my thoughts. I was used to unfair judgement coming from myself. Scolding and diminutive thoughts haunted me in my marriage and here they were again. From the victims of abuse class I was taking, I had learnt how to counteract those negatives with positive affirmation. It was a slow process for me and I definitely wasn't feeling positive at the moment. I still managed to mumble some comforting words;

You're not to blame for this Grace.
This isn't your fault.
This isn't your fault.

I could feel tears prickling the back of my eyes again. They would come and I had no power to wield them away.

"Nora," I whispered then stopped. My sister and her fiance were cuddled so tightly that it seemed wrong to disturb them. They needed each other right now.

I would have to be my own comfort.

I turned around before a tear could slip from my eyes. I stared out the window at the parking lot, desperate to distract myself.

"Grace?" I heard the distant buzz of a voice say my name, causing a flicker of recognition to spark within me. Was I hearing correctly?

"Grace," the voice was stronger now. Closer.

I heard the quiet shuffling of feet behind me. Then they stopped.

"Gracey," the name was barely audible, more breath than anything as it tickled the back of my neck.

I turned so suddenly that I slammed into the chest of the individual. Two strong arms wrapped around my body in an effort to steady me. Even after I was settled, they stayed there, holding tightly.

A small sob escaped my lips and then I was weeping franticly. In between my tears, I tried to explain what had happened, but I doubt anything was decipherable with my blubbering.

Jeremy's P.O.V

It took me at least twenty minutes to get to Mercy General. I dashed in anxiously looking for Grace. The woman behind the desk was on a call and briefly pointed down the hall when I asked for directions to the waiting room. I took off in a jog down the corridor. My heart hammering in my chest. The first thing my eyes landed on was the short blonde hair of Nora. She was sitting with her fiance with her mouth open like she was saying something. She stopped talking when she saw me. Her eyes flashed brightly with rage then subsided quickly like she suddenly remembered something. She nodded to her left and my gaze shifted. Standing way off in the corner with her back to me was Grace. She was staring out the window, but I doubt she was really focused on what she was looking at. I said her name lightly, but she didn't seem to hear. I called her again, this time with a bit more boldness. I saw her shoulders tense up in response, but she didn't turn around. In quick strides I closed the distance between us. I stared directly at the skin on her neck. Very softly I called again, my breath caressing her flesh. She turned around so quickly, that I had to hold her in place. She didn't push me away and I kept my arms around her in an attempt to bring comfort. I wasn't very surprised when she began crying. She must be going through so much right now. She must be so afraid. I'm happy, that despite the circumstances, I'm able to be here for her. She needed that. That's all that matters.