The Love That Passed

Jared’s POV

I carried Colleen as she was already asleep. I sighed when I noticed that she was so light in spite of the fact that she was 5 months pregnant. I put her down on our bed and, just like the other nights, I stared at her beautiful but tired face.

She was having a hard time, I know that for a fact. Who wouldn’t? Anyone who was in her shoes would feel that way aside from the hurt and pain she was probably trying to fight.

While I was struggling to fight the loneliness that I was feeling because of her inevitable passing, she was fighting her own sorrow as well, thinking she was going to leave the family she had started to have.

I touched her face and I couldn’t help but smile when I saw her smile too. She’s like a baby that has been played by her angel in her sleep.

Even if there were dark circles around her eyes, it was still sparkling whenever she looked at me. The colors on her face that I thought were starting to get back have started to fade again.

I touched her on her arm, which was so thin and it broke my heart. All the time that I was doing this, I felt my heart clenching thinking I couldn’t do anything about it.

She really looked fragile and even if I didn’t want to, I couldn’t help but worry that I was going to wake up one day and she was no longer with me without even giving birth to our child.

Then I touched her tummy. She was scheduled for a check-up tomorrow, but I can say that it’s not as big as what a 5-month-old pregnant woman should be. Her doctor assured us that the baby was healthy at her last check-up and if it was still the case tomorrow, I’m sure that she will be very happy to hear that.

I got up and closed the door and the curtain before I went back to lie down beside her. I will surely miss hugging her in our sleep when she leaves me. I was already used to her, squeezing herself into me when she felt my arms around her. And that alone was enough for me to get a good night’s sleep.

In the morning, I woke up early. And just like what I did before I slept, I stared at my wife’s face. Touched her face and felt her warmth.

“Good morning to you too.” She said and slowly opened her eyes, then smiled at me.

I kissed her after I smiled at her too, “How was your sleep?” I asked.

“It was so good because I dreamed of you.” She replied.

“And what was your dream about me?” I asked.

“I’m not gonna tell, I want it for myself only.”

“Then I am not going to tell you about my dream either.” I said, pouting. She chuckled and said,

“It must be something good, judging from the look on your face.”

“You bet it is, but I still won’t tell.”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Colleen giggles and I like the sound of it. It was lively and I believe in her now, that she had a good dream with me.

“Let’s eat at the poolside.” I suggested and she agreed by nodding her head continuously. “Then let me set up the table as you freshen up.” I said and helped her get up and walked through the bathroom.

“I can freshen up myself, go and set up the table.” She said when we were in the bathroom. I nodded and left her there. I took my phone and called Betty asking her to take our breakfast by the pool.

It didn’t take long and the breakfast was ready right after she was done. “Chadaaannnn!” I said with my hand spread, asking for both my hands. She laughed when she saw me and then looked at the table.

“I think I am going to eat a lot today. You’re very energetic and the food was very appetizing.” She said as she sat on the chair that I pulled out for her before I sat on mine.

“Eat now before the food gets cold,” I said, and got started to dig in. She said she was a heavy eater. But because of her condition, she had to control her food intake.

“What time are you going to work today?” She asked.

“I’m not going. I invited Ingrid because I wanted to talk to her about what I had told you.” I replied and she nodded. “You had your check up later, so going to work wouldn’t be a good idea because I might not make it in time and I didn’t want that to happen. I wanted to be with you throughout this and I want to see our baby’s development.” I added.

“She will be very happy when she finds out that her daddy loves her so much.”

“How can you be so certain that our baby is going to be a girl?”

“It’s because I asked God to grace me with a baby girl.”

“And you think that He is going to answer your prayer?” I asked, and she nodded.

“Of course, Yes!” She replied happily. “It was an exchange for my life, so I guess He is not going to deprive me of my prayer.” She added, smiling. I just stared at her and I couldn’t believe that she had just said that with a smile on her face. She’s not bitter or angry at all.

“I think it’s because you are kind, forgiving and loving,” I told her.

“You think so?” She asked and I nodded.

We continued eating until Ingrid came. She greeted my wife and kissed her on her cheeks. She said she was done with her breakfast with mom, so I did not insist on making her eat and asked her to come to my study room instead.

“I will have to leave you for a while, wife. I am going to go back soon.”

“No need to rush, you will just go to your study room on the second floor and discuss what you need to discuss.” She replied, “I will be staying here and talking to Lory, I’m sure that she will be here a little later for her laundry.” She added.

“Alright,” I said, and we went to my study.

“What do you want to talk about that you didn’t want Colleen to hear?” Ingrid asked as soon as we entered my study.

“She knows what we will be talking about,” I told her and she smiled.

“I am happy to hear that.”

“I want to ask you to see the company for a while. I want to be with Colleen in the next months to prepare for her CS.” I told her and she was just looking at me, so I decided to continue.

“I know that you didn’t like it but I wanted to have time with Colleen. I don’t know until when she is going to stay with me or with our baby after she gives birth, so I wanted to stay by her side from here onwards.”

“It must be very difficult and painful for you.” She said, then hugged me. I didn’t want to cry because I was afraid that Colleen would be able to notice it when I came back, but still, my tears cut down the lines on my face as I hugged Ingrid back.

“Give all your time to Colleen and your baby. I promise to take care of the company for you. But promise me one thing.” She said and I looked at her. “You have to come back and manage it yourself when the time comes.” She added, and I nodded.

I know why she said that. She wanted to make sure that I was not going to let myself drown from sorrow when Colleen was gone. “Thanks a lot.” I replied and calmed myself.

We discussed other things and told her that she could call me or ask me anything she didn’t understand and I was going to come and help her.

“Just focus on Colleen and don’t worry about the company. I can handle it, myself.” She said before she left and I went back to where I left my wife.

We stayed at the poolside a little more before we went to the living room and had a talk with mommy Lucy while we waited for lunch and started to prepare for the check-up.

I just hope that both Colleen and our baby are safe and sound. With just that, I will be very happy.