Ex-Husband's Regret



I was sitting next to Gunner and we have been here every day. Gunner's school was understanding, so he hasn't gone to school. Noah comes to check on him every day and brings him his homework.

"We talked, and he told me he knows how it feels. It felt good to talk to him about it. To talk to someone who has been there and understand how hard it is," he pauses while he detangles a knot in her hair before continuing." Don't worry, you two will get along fine once you get to know each other well."

Come one Emma, please wake up. Wake up for the sake of Gunner. That's all I ask. I pray, internally pleading with her to open her eyes.

"We have so much to do," Gunner puts the brush down. "So much we never got to do. I still need to get to know you and you still need to get to know me. Plus, you promised me a gift for every year you missed. One down, seventeen to go."

Just like the past four days, Emma didn't answer. There isn't even a movement to give us hope that she'll be fine.

Sighing, Gunner takes her hand and kisses the back of her hand. "I never got to say it, but I love you. I love you so much, mom. Please just come back to me."

I close my eyes, unable to bear witness to my son's pain. I want to block out his heartbreaking sobs, but I can't. They haunt me. Destroying me from the inside out. Silent tears fall down my face as I hear my son crying. I feel so fucking helpless because this is the one thing I can't give him. I can't make his mother better.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

"G-Gunner?"

My eyes snap open when her voice penetrates my skull. Gunner and I stare at her, both stunned to see Emma awake.

***

"You are both fussing too much; I'm okay," Emma complains with a smile on her face.

I can't tell you just how fucking relieved I am. Gunner is over the moon and so is everyone else. We are happy that she pulled through. I don't know what I would have done if she hadn't. Gunner would have been destroyed.

I shake those thoughts away and watch as my son fusses over his mother. I know him and I know the fear of losing her is still there.

"Are you comfortable?" Gunner asks her, his brows furrowed in all seriousness.

She motions for him to come closer, since she can't move much. When he does, she kisses his forehead before running her finger down his cheek.

"I'm okay, my love," she whispers, tears filling her eyes. "You are here and that's what matters.*

Gunner leans into her touch, probably savoring the moment with his mom. I chuckle softly. I've probably been forgotten. Right now, I don't exist in their world.

"The results are back." The door opens, and Doctor Evans interrupts the moment. "It isn't that great."

"It's okay. Just give it to me as it is," Emma says, her eyes showcasing her strength.

"You might be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of your life," he begins, and all the air whooshes out of her. She looks defeated.

"You said might, right?" I interrupt when Doctor Evans goes to speak again. "Meaning that there might be a chance that she'll recover and walk again, am I correct?"

*Spinal cord injuries are complicated; I don't want to give you any false hopes," he replies.

"Is there a chance or not?" I ground out through gritted teeth.

"Yes. A very slim one."

"Then that's all we need." Gunner says, looking at his mom with determination. "She's okay and she'll stay okay. She'll also walk one day."

Those tears that Emma was holding back finally fall. Since she's unable to get up, Gunner rises on his toes and hugs her.

Gunner is right. That small, slim chance is all we need. That small ray of hope is all we need. Everything else will fall into place eventually, and it will all be okay in the end.