Pack 2 - The Awakening

by R.A Cullison

  I woke up to the sound of the intercom asking for Doctor Franklin to go to ICU. I looked around the room and remembered why I was there. I reached down to find that I had no more tummy. I was then fully alert, I pressed the nurses call button. I was alone in the room, I was surprised that Matt wasn’t there unless something happened to the baby and he wanted to be by himself. My heart sank, did my baby survive? It killed me that I didn’t know.

  A nurse came in, “Morning Mrs. Hanson, what can I do for you?” she asked cheerfully.

  “My baby? How is my baby?” I asked, holding back tears.

  “Your baby? Let me get doctor Franklin.” she went to talk out of the room.

  “You cant tell me anything?” I slide up on the bed.

  “I wasn’t here so I don’t know. Let me get the doctor.” she left. I started to pray, ‘please PLEASE let my baby be ok.’

  The doctor strolled into the room, “Mrs. Hanson? Hi I am Doctor Robert Williams, I did your cesarean last night.”

  “My baby?” I interrupted.

  “He is fine, alittle small but other wise he is in great shape. Last night your uterus hemorrhaged causing some massive bleeding. We stopped the bleed but to deliver you baby.” I took a sigh or relief.

  “Him? Can I see him?” I asked. Matt came strolling into the room.

  “Yes of course.” his eyes went to Matt also. I always found it amazing how people look at him. Sometimes its with amazement and others with terror. Matt strode next to the bed with a smile on his face.

  “Hey babe.” he greeted me with a kiss.

  “Have you seen the baby?” I asked.

  “Yes, he is perfect.” his smile got bigger.

  The doctor cleared his throat, we looked at him. “We will take you down to see the baby. Let me get a nurse and wheelchair.” he walked out of the room. I turned my attention back to Matt.

  “Have you heard anything about my Dad?” I asked.

  “Yes, your Mom is with him right now. She told him about the baby and that seem to help him come to.” he said with his eyes locked on mine.

  “We have a son.” I smiled in amazement.

  “Yes, now we have to figure out what to name him.” he sat next to me on the bed gently.

  “Hmm?” I thought. “How about Matthew Jr.” I watched Matt’s face turn distorted.

  “Ummm no, I don’t want to have a son named after me. Lets try something unique.” he leaned back and put his arm around me.

  “How about Travis?” I smiled. “after Grandpa.”

  Matt smiled, “You sure?” I shook my head.

  “Yes, Grandpa meant a lot to me. So yeah, Travis James Hanson.” I shook my head agreeing with myself.

  “Ok, then its Travis James Hanson, I guess.” We kissed. A nurse showed up with a wheelchair.

  “Mrs. Hanson, ready to go see your son?” she asked.

  “Yes.” Matt helped me up and into the wheelchair. Matt wheeled me down to where the baby was. I was preparing myself for the worse, like him on a bunch of machines. Matt wheeled me to the back of the room to a incubator. There was this tiny little baby with a breathing tube through his nose sleeping soundly.

  “Oh my.” I whispered. The sight of his was heartbreaking he was so tiny and so fragile looking.

  “He is doing great. Don’t let the sight of the tube and stuff bother you, its just precaution, because he is so tiny and a few weeks premature.” I looked at the nurse.

  “Can I hold him?” I asked.

  “Yes.” she lifted up the plastic sides of the incubator then lifted him out and placed him into my arms. He weighed nothing and was tiny I was scared to hold him too tight. I kissed his head the nurse undid my gown.

  “Place him on your skin, it will help him to have skin on skin and he will remember your heartbeat.” She helped me place him on my chest and then did my gown back up and placed a blanket over us. I placed my hand on his back to steady him. I could feel his little heartbeat against my hand and his breath against my chest.

  “He is so tiny.” I choked back a tear.

  “He is strong though, like his Dad.” the nurse said looking up at Matt who was smiling at that comment.

  “Lets hope so.” I rubbed his head and his back.

  “Have you held him yet?” the nurse asked Matt. He shook his head.

  “No, I just talked to him. He remembers my voice.” he said touching his back. Matt could fit him in one hand it seemed.

  After an hour with him I was being wheeled back to my room. “Wait. I want to go see my Dad.” I waited for Matt to protest instead he turned around and we headed for the elevators. After seeing how good the baby was doing, I was hoping my Dad was doing as good.

  The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. Matt pushed me out and down the hall a short ways. I could see my Mom sitting in a chair. She smiled as soon as she saw me. I could hear the beeping of the heart machine. Matt pushed me farther in the room. My Dad was sitting up with a oxygen tube in his nose.

  “Hi Daddy.” I greeted him. He smiled real big and reached his hands out for me. Matt pushed me next to his bed and helped me up. I hugged him so tight against his chest I could hear his heart beating hard. I began to cry.

  “Shhh” he said smoothing my hair, “ I will be ok.” I still cried. The feeling of him breathing and hearing his heart was overwhelming.

  “How is the baby?” my Mom asked. I pulled away still looking at my Dad.

  “He is strong and tiny.” I looked at my Mom. “have you seen him?” I asked. She shook her head.

  “No, will they let me?” she asked. We shook our head together.

  “Who has April?” I asked looking at Matt.

  “Well, She is with Nikki and Kyle at the house. They rushed her as soon as they heard about your Dad and you.” I sighed in relief.

  “How is her baby doing?” my eyes still fixed on Matt.

  “Big.” my Mom answered. “The pudgiest little thing and cute.” I smiled. “April finds the baby fascinating.” she smiled.

  “Good, I hope she finds her little brother just as fascinating as Nikki and Kyle’s baby.” I sat back down in the wheelchair. My Dad was staring at me. “Whats wrong daddy?” I asked him.

  “I am so proud of you, Nora-bug.” he smiled.

  “Proud of you too daddy.” I picked up his hand and held it. He squeezed it gently.

  “Visiting hours are over.” a nurse came in and informed us. I hugged both my parents bye and was wheeled back to my room. I was getting really tired. Matt helped me back in bed and covered me up.

  “Thanks honey.” I yawned. He leaned down and kissed my forehead. I fell asleep.

  Early the next morning I woke up to Nikki and Kyle in the room with their pudgy little boy. Nikki put him on my bed next to me. He giggled and cooed he was happy. I smiled at him and played with his belly.

  Matt showed up with April, she was crying. “Awww come here baby girl.” I reached for her. She hugged me. “daddy being mean?” I teased, smiling at Matt. He stuck his tongue out.

  “No she is just alittle crabby she is getting a tooth in.” he sat next to me on the bed. “plus I think she misses her mommy.” I looked up at him.

  “Awww. Its not fair to her that I am always in the hospital or away.” I said while smoothing her hair out of her face.

  “Its not like you can help it, babe.” he bent down and kissed me. April pushed his head away.

  “No Dadda!” she said angrily.

  “Well, she means business.” I turned her around. “April, you be nice to your daddy.” she glared at him again.

  “What did I do?” he asked her.

  She pointed a chubby finger at him. “You bad!” Matt pretended to cry. She frowned. “No cry Dadda?” she stood up and reached for him. Matt picked her up.

  “Sucker.” he said jokingly and started tickling her. It hurt for me to laugh.

&
nbsp; “Mrs. Hanson?” a female interrupted the laughter.

  “Yes?” I answered.

  “The doctor said you can go home if you want.” she had a clipboard in her hand.

  “Ok.” I said with relief.

  “The baby will stay in for a few more weeks before he is released. But we usually ask the parents to visit everyday.” she handed me the clipboard to sign.

  “that wont be a problem.” I said signing my name.

  “Ok, would you like to see the baby before you go?” she asked smiling.

  “Yes please, but can I get dressed first.” I asked.

  “Of course.” she handed me a copy of the release form and left the room. I got up and dressed without any help from Matt. He holding April and walking around the room. “Matt?” he looked, “Help me with my shoes please?” I chuckled. He bent down and put them on me. The same nurse returned with a wheelchair and we headed to the nursery.

  “Can our daughter come in there too?” Matt asked.

  “Sure, she can see her little brother.” she answered smiling at April. She hid her face from the nurse.

  “She is a little shy.” Matt smiled at the nurse.

  He was awake this time, his eyes scanning the room. I put my head down to his face level. “Hi Baby.” I cooed. He was staring at me, his eyes fixed on my face.

  “Baby.” April said pointed to her brother.

  “That’s your baby brother.” Matt said. “He is our baby.” April looked at him and smiled.

  “My baby?” giving Matt a serious look.

  “Yes, you want to say hi to him?” he sat her on my lap. She stood up looking at him, her hand was pressed against the plastic side.

  “Hi baby.” she said softly. I looked up at Matt. He was smiling, he was beaming with pride at his little family and I was also.

  “His name is Travis. April say Travis.” I asked. She turned to look at me.

  “Travis, baby Travis.” she said looking seriously.

  “Yep, baby Travis.” I rubbed her head. The baby began to cry. That was the first time I heard it. A nurse came over to check on him. She opened the side and checked him.

  “Would you like to try to sooth him.” I shook my head. She placed him in my arms. He instantly stopped crying. I pulled him up to my face and kissed him. He started crying again. This time it was heartbreaking sounding. The nurse took him away, “he is hungry, hopefully he will feed this time. He don’t like the formula.” I looked up at Matt.

  “Excuse me, Umm maybe I could express some milk to see if he will take that?” I suggested. The nurse shook her head.

  “I would have to ask the doctor.” she disappeared in the back. Another nurse emerged a few minutes later with a breast pump. They asked me to pump as much as I could and then we had to leave. It was hard to leave the hospital without my baby.

  We were in the elevator when my name came over the loud speaker about going to the waiting room on 2 floor. We hurried there, my Mom was on the floor with her face buried in her hands crying uncontrollably. My heart sank, I knew what happened. I covered my mouth with my hand trying not to scream. I walked to her, “Mom!” she looked up at me.

  “Nora your Dad….. He…is … gone.” I got down on the floor with her and we held each other crying. Matt stood there with April trying to be strong. He looked stunned.

  “When I asked?” she shook her head. “20 minutes ago, he was sleeping when the machines went off. They worked on him for 10 minutes but they couldn’t revive him. Matt helped me up and held me close to him as I was crying uncontrollably.

  “I am so sorry baby.” Matt whispered in my ear. I turned toward his room.

  “I want to see him.” I told the nurse. She shook her head and led me into the room. He was covered up with a white sheet, he look like he was asleep. I hugged him and kissed his cheek, “I love you daddy.” I rested my head on his chest and began to cry. His body was cool and grey, I could feel my heartbreaking inside my chest.

  “Babe?” I turned and looked at him. I raised my head up to leave, there was a round wet spot where my head was. It took all I had to leave the hospital. I had to pull my Mom away she didn’t want to leave him.

  We pulled into the drive way, Nikki and Kyle’s car was till there. We walked into the house. Nikki greeted us at the door, her face dropped she knew something bad had happen.

  “Oh no!” she exclaimed. I shook my head.

  “My Dad died.” I barely could say it. Nikki wrapped her arms around me and we hugged.

  “How is the baby?” she asked pulling away.

  “He is strong and he will make it.” I said. Matt handed me a tissue. My Mom was walking around like a zombie, “Mom do you want to go lay down?” I asked. She shook her head and disappeared into the guest room. Nikki refused to tell her Dad that mine was gone so I had to do it.

  I dialed Uncle Roger’s number. “Hello?” he answered.

  “Uncle Roger, its Nora.” I sniffled. “I have bad new.”

  “Bad new?” he repeated. “what happened?”

  “My Dad had a heart attack.” I tried to sound calm.

  “Is he ok?” he asked.

  “No. He …he died about an hour ago.” I heard him sobbing in the background that’s when I lost it, telling my Uncle made all that more real.

  “Oh no!” he sobbed. I covered the mouth piece with my hand not letting him hear me.

  “Uncle Roger.” I said after getting my composer. “Mom don’t know what she is going to do yet.”

  “I understand.” he commented. We said our I love you and byes, and we hung up. After an hour or so I went in to check on my Mom. I knocked but no answer so I slowly cracked the door to peek inside. She was asleep, I walked over to the side of her bed and crawled in next to her. Her puffy eyes opened and she was staring at me.

  “I love you Mom.” I said in a hush tone. She reached her hand up and stroked my face as I watched a tear run down her cheek.

  “I love you too, Sweetheart.” I scooted closer to her and she wrapped her arms around me. I laid there next to my Mom for awhile, I listened to her heart and for one second I thought I could hear it breaking. After she fell back to sleep, I kissed her forehead and quietly left the room.

  Matt and Kyle were playing games, Nikki was watching them until she saw me go into the kitchen. I walked over to the fridge, no matter how heartbroken I was everyone needed to eat.

  “What are you doing?” Nikki asked.

  “I have to make dinner.” I said slowly.

  “No, let me handle it. You go out there and relax you been through enough.” She gently grabbed my arm and led me out of the kitchen, “go be with Matt and April.” I turned and gave her a look. “That’s why I am here.” I hugged her.

  I sat next to Matt, almost on top of him. But he didn’t complain, feeling his warmth made me feel better. “NO!” he shouted at Kyle. “Oh yeah think your slick eh?” he chuckled. It was nice to see someone having fun. I wasn’t looking forward to what was ahead of us. I heard Nikki in the kitchen clanging pots and pans around. I wanted to go in there but I didn’t have the strength, I suddenly felt very tired.

  “UHH! You cheating butthead!” Kyle said then laughed.

  “Cheating my ass! That was fair and square. Your just a poor loser!” Matt retorted laughing as well. Kyle took the controller from Matt and placed it next to the game system. Matt then turned towards me, he put his arm around me and pulled me close to him. “how you holding up?” he asked whispering in my ear.

  I shrugged, “could be better.” he kissed my cheek. We heard April talking on the baby monitor. I looked at Matt shocked, “who is she talking to?” We listened to hear another voice but it was just her.

  “Puppa.” she said plain as day. Me and Matt both had the look of shock on our faces. I slowly got up and quietly tip-toed up the stairs, trying to take my time so I didn’t make a noise. I stood outside her door listening
to her laughing and I strained to hear another voice. Then I heard or thought I heard a males voice whisper something. I opened the door and she was alone standing on the edge of her crib. “Mumma!” she exclaimed as soon as she saw me. I scanned the room and checked the closet to see if anyone was hiding, but nothing.

  “See anything?” Matt asked from the door.

  “No she is alone. But I thought I heard a…uh.” I caught Matt’s look, “never mind.” I waited for Matt to pick her up and carry her downstairs so she could have dinner with us. As soon as we cleared the stairs Nikki announced that dinner was done.

  We ate a surprisingly good dinner and we all gathered into the living room and watched the kids play on the rug. Kyle and Nikki’s little girl wasn’t old enough to sit up yet so she laid on her belly. April kept bringing her toys for her to play with. I was so proud of how sweet April was and it gave me a good feeling knowing she will be the same way with her little brother. Hopefully we would be able to bring him home soon, but right now the main thing is to let him stay in the hospital and get bigger and healthier.

  The grandfather clock chimed telling us it was after 10pm. I rose up slowly off the couch and turned towards Matt. “I think its time to put April to bed and we should go to bed too.” Matt smiled at me. “I want to get up early and go to see the baby.”

  “Ok babe.” Matt said standing up. He picked April up off the floor and we made our way upstairs. I was very sore, I could feel the stitches now more than ever. I walked into the bedroom flipping the light on as I entered. I walked over to the dresser and dug out a pair of warm pajamas for April so Matt could dress her. I headed towards the bathroom to get ready for bed.

  I turned the bathroom light on, it flickered some then stopped. I looked at myself in the mirror. I started at myself thinking to myself, ‘what else could go wrong in my life’. I took off my clothes and looked at myself in the mirror. My cesarean scar was thick and red. I ran my fingers over it lightly. It wasn’t as sore as I thought, it barely stung.

  I walked out of the bathroom in my night gown. Matt was in bed watching tv on low volume. I peeked in on April, she was asleep soundly. I crawled into bed next to Matt. It was hard to get in a comfortable spot but I managed. It didn’t take long for me to pass out from exhaustion.

  I felt being shaking and my name being called. “Nora! Wake up!” I opened to my eyes with Matt staring at me. “You ok? You were talking in your sleep.” He had the look of worry on his face.

  “What was I saying?” I asked.

  “I don’t know, but you were crying as you were saying it. It must have been pretty intense.” He wipe the sweat off my brow with his sweat shirt sleeve.

  “I don’t remember what I was dreaming.” I closed my eyes trying to remember what had me so upset in the dream, but I drew a blank. “What time is it?” I asked.

  He turned to look behind him at the alarm clock. “7:12am.”

  “I want to get to the hospital early to see the baby.” I said slowly sliding out of bed.

  “Ok, but do you think you should drive?” he has concern written all over his face.

  “No. I will see if Mom will stay with her.” I smiled at him. I walked over to the closet and took out a sundress. I change right there, I didn’t need to go into the bathroom. I slipped off my nightgown Matt was looking down at my stomach. I looked down to see what caught his eyes. I noticed what he was looking at, my scar and my cesarean cut.

  “I never realized how close they were.” he said.

  “Yeah, me either.” I slipped on the dress and a pair of sandals. I watched a smile slowly spread across Matt’s face. “What?” I asked.

  “Do you realize what your wearing.” He stood up and walked over to me.

  I looked down at a familiar yellow sundress. “Our first date.” I smoothed the dress against my body. Matt gently pulled me to him and hugged me. “A lot has happened in the past few years.” I whispered in his ear. April stood up on the side of her crib and was crying. We pulled out of the hug.

  “Like Little Miss. April and Travis.” He said looking at our daughter who was almost a carbon copy of him.

  “Yeah, the female version of you.” I said jokingly. He chuckled as well, cause he knew he couldn’t deny her.

  “Yeah. Watch and see if Travis looks like you or me.” He started to change her.

  “I doubt it. Speaking of which I would like to head to the hospital to see him.” I went to pick up my purse off the table next to the door.

  “You going to ask your Mom?” he asked.

  “Yep. Bring her downstairs.” I walked over to them both and kissed Matt on the lips and April on the cheek. She wrapped her arms around me wanting me to carry her. “I’m sorry baby, but Mommy cant hold you right now.” she began to stick out her bottom lip. “Aww” I hugged her. Matt picked her up and we headed downstairs together.

  Nikki and Kyle were watching tv, while their baby was on the floor playing. “Good morning.” Nikki greeted me. She stood up and hugged me.

  “You both are up early.” I said hugging her.

  “Yeah, the baby got us up.” she said looking at the baby.

  “I am going to the hospital to see the baby. Has my Mom been up?” I looked at her bedroom door.

  “Nope, I haven’t heard anything.” Nikki answered. I walked over to the door and knocked. “Mom?” I waited for her to answer. I opened the door. She was sitting on the side of the bed staring at her wedding band. “Mom?” her head slowly turned towards me. “Are you ok?” I asked.

  She shrugged her shoulders. “I’m ok.” she said weakly. I sat beside her on the bed. I remembered right then about losing my Dad and I began to cry. We held each other for a few minutes until April came walking in. My Mom’s eyes got bright seeing her.

  “Nonna!” April called towards my Mom. She walked over and picked her up.

  “Hi pretty girl.” She hugged April to her.

  “We want to go see the baby, so you….” She interrupted me.

  “April can stay with me.” she answered me before I asked.

  “Thanks Mom.” I stood up and kissed both their cheeks.

  We arrived at the hospital alittle after 9am. I walked into the nursery where the baby was, but he wasn’t there.

  “Excuse me!” I asked a nurse passing by. “Where is my son?” I asked.

  “Your son?” she repeated.

  “Yes. Baby Hanson. Travis Hanson?” I asked.

  “Oh, he was moved into N.I.C.U.” she said casually.

  “Where is that?” I was beginning to panic.

  “Down the hall to the right.” she said pointed to the hall in front of her. I thanked her and headed down the hall, I began to pray all the way there. I read the signs above the doors, then there was the N.I.C.U. I opened the door. There were several people in there and I could hear my baby crying.

  “Can I help you?” A woman’s voice asked.

  “I am here to see my son.” My voice was shaky.

  “Baby’s name?” she asked. I showed her my bracelets.

  “Oh, yeah. The little guy.” she reached over and handed me a blue gown and a mask, I quickly put them on.

  “How is he doing?” I asked as she led me back to see him.

  “Very well. He is a fighter and he is beginning to get some lungs on him.” she said opening a big white door. I walked into a room with several incubators in there all had tiny babies. I saw my baby in the middle of room. He was all red from crying and to me he looked bigger than he did yesterday.

  “Is he bigger?” I asked.

  “Yes, he is gaining weight very fast and his lungs are becoming more mature every hour.” I looked at her face.

  “Is he ok?” I pulled my eyes away from hers and back to the baby.

  “He is healthy. We don’t understand why he is growing so fast.” she looked at him too. “Its nothing too freakish, we think if he was to stay in the womb for another w
eek he would have been a normal size baby.”

  “Can I hold him?” I turned to look back at her.

  “Sure.” she opened the sides of the incubator and pulled him out then handed him to me. I cradled him in my arms studying his looks. I was right he would look like Matt too. But I also seen some of me. I rubbed his dark hair, what little he had.

  “Who has dark hair?” the nurse asked.

  “My husband, I can tell he is going to look like him.” I chuckled to myself.

  A few minutes had passed, I sat there and rocked him. Matt walked in with the same blue gown on and mask.

  “This must be Dad?’ she said sort of jokingly.

  “Yes. See Matt he looks like you.” we both laughed.

  **********************************************************

  The baby’s was finally home and we were a complete family. April adored her little brother and she was a mother hen to him. I was sitting down watching tv holding Travis when April climbed up on the couch next to me. “Hold baby?” she asked.

  “Ok, but be careful.” I could see the excitement on her face. I put a pillow under her arm and placed him on her lap. She sat right there holding him. “My baby brother.” she said touching his cheek and head.

  “That’s right, he is your baby brother.” I stepped back and snapped a picture with my cell phone. My Mom came in and saw them together on the couch.

  “Awww look at that.” my Mom cooed. “My grandbabies.” I had the urge to pee.

  “Mom. Keep an eye on them I have to pee.” I turned towards the bathroom.

  “Kyle is in that one.” she informed me. I quickly turned and headed up the stairs. I peed, washed my hands and headed back downstairs. I walked into the living room.

  “Oh sweetie, someone woman called about the antique vases, she said to call her back today.” My Mom said holding Travis.

  “Thanks Mom.” I turned and walked into the kitchen and picked up the house phone. I heard voices on the other end. I listened for a second it was Matt and a familiar mans voice talking.

  “I don’t know if I can do this anymore.” Matt said to the other person.

  “You must! You agreed to do this, you must follow through.” the stranger said.

  “We already brought 2 babies into this world. And its not fair to them to know their father don’t love their mother and it was all a lie to lure her into a trap.” I covered the mouth piece, Not believing what I was hearing.

  “Don’t be a fool! You tell me you don’t love that woman. I know you better then anyone. You love her!” I recognized the other voice, Noah! My insides felt like they were tied into knots.

  “Your right I do. But I am not in love with her. She is the mother of my child.” he said sternly. ‘Child’ I thought.

  “You must bring her to me tonight.” Noah continued. “And my son, I cant believe she hasn’t figured out that the baby isn’t yours yet.” he chuckled.

  “She don’t know that you impregnated her back at his mansion.” Matt said.

  “It was sex, she was out and I had sex with her.” he chuckled. “I can see why you held on to her for all this time.” he continued laughing.

  “When and where do you want me to bring her?” Matt asked.

  “9 at the docks. Don’t be late.” they hung up and so did I. Am I dreaming. I pinched myself. OW! I was awake.

  I didn’t know where to go or who to tell. Then something hit me, Corbin! I ran to Nikki and Kyle’s room. I knocked.

  “Come in!” They called out. I walked into the room. Kyle was watching tv and Nikki was holding the baby. The look on my face must of said something to them.

  “Whats wrong?” Nikki asked. I didn’t want to explain yet because I didn’t know how to.

  “I want the truth, no more Lies.” I said to Kyle.

  “Ok? What?” he turned the tv off.

  “Where is Corbin?” I watched his face turn colors.

  “Dead.” he said.

  “Liar! Where is he?” I asked again. I looked at Nikki, she knew something.

  “Tell her Kyle!” she ordered him. “After everything she has done for us!” She kicked him.

  “OK!” he looked at me. “Yes Corbin is still alive.”

 

  Pack 2 - The Awakening

 

  Pre-view

  Pack 3 - Resurrection of Love Lost

  I walked into the abandoned house, scared shitless. Matt was still oblivious that I knew what he was up to and who he was involved with. I wasn’t going to let him get away with this. I loved him yes more than anything. Just because his love was a lie don’t mean mine was.

  I stepped into a dark room, the only light was from the fireplace. “Hello?” I called out. Something on the table in the back got my attention. I slowly walked over to it. My family portrait accept Matt was cut out of it.

  “Nora?” A familiar voice called from a dark corner. I turned towards it. There stood Corbin, looking like he stepped out of my memory at the train station.“What are you doing here?” he asked. I began to sob.

  “I… I need help.” I managed to get out.

  “Help with what?” she asked with concern.

  “Matt?” I sobbed. Corbin walked over to me and helped sit down in a nearby chair. I quickly explained everything and tried not to burst into more tears. I seen the anger flash over his face and I could tell that he still loved me.

  “That SON OF A BITCH!” he growled. “what about your children?” he asked.

  “Matt don’t know I know. I don’t want to cause them too much heartache. But Matt is Aprils Dad and Noah is Travis’s Dad.” I said.

  “Wait how could you still be human?” Corbin asked. I explained that to him too. “So your Dad found the cure?” he asked. I just shook my head. He stood up and walked towards the fireplace. The glow of the fireplace danced off his face.

  “Yes.” I said. He turned and looked at me.

  “Yes what?” he asked.

  “Yes, I still love you. I never stopped even through death.” I lowered my head.

  “I still love you as well. That never stopped even with you marrying Matt and having your children. I only regretted that it wasn’t me you had children with and married.” He was staring into the fireplace.

  “I do too, Corbin. I do too.” I stood up and walked over to him. “You’re the only person I can trust. Please help me.” I stood a few inches from his face. Our eyes locked his dark eyes where black. He slowly moved towards me and we kissed softly. To me it set the love I had for him back in full on inferno. This time I wasn’t going to let him go and I knew it.