I can’t hold back the tears; I’m afraid of losing her. I couldn’t stand it if that happened.
Ingrid looks at me and then at Andrew.
“I believed that you two were a couple.”
“No, we’re just friends, brothers,” Andrew replies.
“Ingrid, let me explain, please,” I say, drying my tears “Hailey and I love each other. She means everything to me, everything. She never cheated on Jeremy. I have always respected their marriage, even if it cost me a lot. Jeremy was violent, both in the bedroom and in daily life. You can’t imagine how many bruises I saw on her and who knows how many she hides from me. Each time I died a little more inside because I felt useless and couldn’t protect her.”
“I’m speechless,” Ingrid says while her eyes fill with tears. “I feel bad for having mistreated her.”
“This is why we made up this story,” says Andrew “And she was in therapy with a psychologist for a few months. She was abused and couldn’t refuse because he used more force. She was terrified of Jeremy, but she accepted it because she was afraid that something could happen to the baby. Hailey told me she wanted to get the divorce after the delivery. No matter what, and she already fills the paper just in case something happened to her, Alice would grow up with Danny and you.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” i asked angrily.
I’m furious with Drew. I’m speechless.
“I’m sorry, man. She made me promise not to tell you,” he says.
“You should have told me anyway, idiot, I can’t live without her.” I scold him.
After an hour, I set down the baby, change her diaper, give her milk, and rock her.
Ingrid goes to take a shower and organize Jeremy’s funeral.
The little girl falls asleep, and I follow her right away.
Danny
The days go by and seem endless.
I miss her voice, I miss her smiles and her eyes. It has been another five days, and Hailey hasn’t woken up.
I’m desperate. I don’t know what else to do. I talk to Hailey, tell her about the day.
Alice grows up, and she needs her, me too. I can’t live without her.
We hadn’t planned our life like this. I could never have imagined a worse nightmare than this.
Because this is a nightmare, an endless nightmare.
“Why don’t you wake up? Please wake up, love! I need you! I need you, I need you like air.
You’re everything to me, baby. I feel lost. If Alice weren’t here, I wouldn’t even be able to think about tomorrow without you. You’re my life.”
Ingrid and Andrew are here every days, too. Just going to her house, of breathing her perfume makes me nostalgic. I feel guilty for leaving her alone, so I return almost immediately, only enough time to shower.
Ingrid has already prepared the boxes by removing everything that belonged to Jeremy. There are just a few photos from their wedding, and that’s all. She says that Hailey absolutely doesn’t deserve to relive or rethink what she has been through. It was a nightmare and shock to discover that her son wasn’t really what she thought he was.
Returning to the hospital, I stop to get the usual flowers.
As I walk, I pass in front of the jewelry store. I don’t know why I stop, but my feet freeze in front of the shop window.
I see a pair of wedding rings, including an engagement ring with a beautiful princess cut diamond. It’s a mix of yellow and rose gold—perfect for Hailey.
A force pushes me inside the shop. I talk to the shop assistant, and then I buy the rings. I don’t know why. Its madness, but I know that’s our beginning.
I get in the car and head to the hospital, confident. Every day, I hope this will be the one when Hailey finally wakes up when my princess finally opens her eyes and comes back to me.
