Trust in Love

Chapter 16

When she woke up, she realized she was in the hospital. She felt nothing but pain throughout her whole body.

Jared was sitting in a chair next to her bed. When he saw her eyes open, he moved closed to the bed and grabbed her hand.

'Thank God you're awake,' he said emotionally. 'I thought I had lost you.'

It hurt just to take a breath.

'I can't...breathe,' she whispered hoarsely, trying not to panic.

'You broke a couple of ribs,' Jared told her. 'The doctor says you're going to be covered in bruises.'

She felt a dull ache in her abdomen.

'What about.....the baby?' Justine asked frantically.

Jared shook his head sadly.

'I'm sorry, honey. The baby is gone,' he said softly.

'What?' she cried in dismay. 'No!'

She started to sob and Jared lowered his head.

'I'm so sorry, Justine,' he said, a tear rolling down his cheek.

'The baby....was all I had....left of you,' she said in a devastated tone.

She couldn't believe the baby was gone. She'd barely had a chance to be pregnant and now it was over. The emptiness inside her was now complete. She didn't think she would ever recover from it.

'Please don't cry, Justine,' Jared pleaded. 'We can try again.'

Justine looked at him in surprise. He appeared to be earnest.

'But I thought....you hated me,' she protested.

'I don't hate you,' Jared claimed. 'I was angry and hurt, but I never hated you.'

'You don't....love me,' she said, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks.

Jared sighed and wiped her tears away.

'I never stopped loving you,' he argued. 'Believe me, I tried. But I'll always love you, Justine. If it takes the rest of my life to convince you of that, so be it.'

She wanted to believe him. He had broken her heart so badly. How could she risk everything again?

'I'm sorry for not trusting you, Justine,' Jared continued. 'I regret the things I said.'

'I regret.....the things....I did,' she said sadly.

'Can we agree to forgive each other and move on?' he asked hopefully.

'I've missed.....you,' she said plainly.

'I've missed you too, sweetheart,' he replied. 'Will you move back in with me?'

She couldn't believe he wanted her back. She loved him so much.

'I will....on one....condition,' she answered.

'What's that?' he asked.

'You....tell my mom....that I'm....leaving.'

Jared smiled.

'It would be my pleasure,' he murmured, kissing her gently on the lips.