CHAPTER 008 OLIVIASPOV Themorningsunshonethroughthehospitalwindows,andIslowlystirred awake,mybody achingfromtheeventsofthe past day.Thesterilescentofthehospitalwasstillintheair,andthesoftbeepingofthemachinesbesidemewastheonly soundfillingthequietroom.Asmyvisioncleared,InoticedJulianslumpedinthechairnexttomybed.
Hisheadrestedagainstthesideofthe chair,hisarmsfoldedacrosshischest,hisbreathing deepandsteady.Hisdarkhairwasslightly disheveled,andthefaintestshadowofstubble hadformedonhisjawline.Iwasactuallyshocked.Hehadstayed.Throughthenight,even.
Atthesametime,IwasreallyhappythatJulianstayed.UnlikeAdrian,themanIcalledmyhusbandwhohadabandoned mewithouthesitation,Julianhad chosentobehere.Hehadchosentocare.
Mypainshadreduced,andIwasntfeeling dizzyanymore,butmyheartwasstillheavyfromthenewsofthepreviousday.
Iused myhandstocovermyface forafewsecondsbeforesittingup.Mybodystillfeltsore,butatleast thedizzinesshadfaded.
Asifheknewmyeyeswereonhim,Julianstirred,shiftingslightlybeforeblinkingawake.Whenhisgazemetmine,asmall,tiredsmiletouchedhislips.
Hey,youreup,hesaid,stretchingbeforerubbing the backofhisneck.Howareyoufeeling? Goodmorning,Igreeted,myvoicestillhoarsefrom theexhaustionweighing down.
onme.

Iswallowedthelumpinmythroat.LikeIgothitbyatrain,Iadded.
Julianchuckledsoftly.Well,thats understandable.Youwentthroughalot.Butyourestillhere,andthats whatmatters.
Iforcedaweak,smilebutcouldntshaketheheavinessin mychest.Thelossofmychild,Adriansindifference,and theweight ofmy failingmarriage allsettledonmyshoulderslikeanunbearableburden.Forcryingoutloud,I amonlybutonehumanbeing.
Julianseemedtosensemyspiralingthoughtsbecauseheleaned forwardandnudgedmy armgently.Alright,enoughofthat sadface.Iknowsomethingthat might help.Iraisedaneyebrowathim.Oh?ASuccessfullyunlocked! Pizza.
traus Despite myself,Ilet outa smalllaugh.Pizza? 1/3 CHAPTER008 Yes,pizza.Ithas magical healingproperties,trustme.Julianstoodup,stretching.Hospitalfoodistheworst,andIknowyouhavent eaten.So,letmegogetyousomething worth having.
Ihesitated.Julian,youdonthaveto… Heheldupafinger,stoppingme.Shh.Noarguments.Illbebacksoon.
Withthat,hegrabbedhisjacketandwalkedoutthedoor,leavingmealonewithmythoughts.Istared attheceiling,mymindracing.
Afterafewminutes,Iletoutasigh,Igotupandwalkedtowardsthewindow.
Ididntevenknow,Iadmitted,myvoicebarelyabovea whisper.

Follow new episodes on the CrushnovelS.Com

IdidntknowIwaspregnant …andnow… Myfingersabsentmindedlytouchedmystomach.Afreshwaveofsorrowthreatenedtoconsumeme,butItookadeepbreath and closedmyeyes,willingmyselfnottocry again.
Truetohisword,Julianreturnedlessthananhourlater,holdingatakeoutboxinone hand andabottle ofjuiceintheother.
The momenthesteppedintotheroom,hegrinned.Behold,thecureto allsadnesspepperoni andcheese.
Isatup slightlyasheplacedtheboxonmylap.Youreridiculous.
Iknow, hesaid,takingaseatbesideme.Noweat.
Ihesitatedbefore pullingopenthebox.The smellinstantly mademy stomachgrowl.I hadntrealizedjust howhungryIwasuntilnow.Taking asmallbite,Ihummedinappreciation.Okay,youmightberightaboutthemagicalhealingproperties.
Juliansmirked.Toldyou.
Weateinsilenceforawhile,andthenasuddenknockon thedoorbrokeourmoment.The nurse entered,holdingaclipboard.Miss,thedoctorwouldliketodiscussyourdischarge options.
Inoddedweakly,andthenurseleft,givingme a momenttoprocess.Discharge.Thatmeantleavingthisplace,facingtherealityofmy life,andfiguringoutwhat camenext.

*** Theride homewas quiet.Ididntwant to gotoAdrians soIdecided to gotomyparents.Istaredoutthe window, watching thecity blur past,mythoughtsswirling.
Juliandidntpushmetotalk,simplykeepingtheradioona softvolume,offeringmesilentsupport.Whenwefinallypulleduptomyparentshouse,Isighed,dreadingwhatever awaitedmeinside.
You sureyoullbeokay?Julianasked,glancingatmewithconcern.
I forceda smile.Illbefine.Thanksforeverything,Julian.Really.
CHAPTER008 Hegavemealonglookbeforenodding.Youknowwheretofindmeifyouneedme.
Isteppedoutofthecar,wrappingmyarmsaroundmyselfasIapproachedthefrontdoor.Pushingitopen,Isteppedinside,thefamiliarscentofhomewashingover me.
IwasabouttocalloutwhenIheardvoicesdriftingfromthelivingroom.Myparents.
Curious,Itookaquietstepforward,butthewordsIheardnextmademefreezeinplace.
3/3