by Paige Parker
Table of Contents
Chapter 1- Misguided
Chapter 2- Hope
Chapter 3- Happily Ever After
Chapter 4- Demons
Misguided
Ava put on her nurses uniform in the dark, getting ready for work as quietly as possible. She didn’t want to wake her boyfriend Ethan from his sleep, but it wasn’t because she was trying to be considerate of his feelings. They had gotten into a huge fight the night before, the first real fight they ever had since getting together. Ava was still so disgusted and hurt, she didn’t think she could face Ethan in that moment without screaming in his face, so she reasoned it best to avoid him altogether for the time being.
Ava and Ethan’s relationship had been a happy one thus far, or at least that’s the way she liked to think of it. Ethan had been her college sweetheart and they’d been a couple ever since their sophomore year. He had come from money and Ava was a country girl, born and raised in Michigan where they both attended school and now lived. She would have never thought the two of them could be compatible but when their worlds had collided, they quickly became inseparable. Ethan showed Ava a different way of life than she was used to and made it a habit to spoil her rotten. He had always been kind, doting and loyal towards her, everything a girl could ever want in a boyfriend. Ava felt like Ethan might really be the one, and she was very content and happy with their life together in East Lansing, Michigan. In her eyes, she had the perfect fairytale romance and Ethan was her prince charming.
Everything seemingly changed in one short night for the pair however, and Ava’s blood boiled as she reflected on their argument. She had come home from the V.A. hospital where she worked to cook them both a nice meal. Ava had reason to celebrate and she could not wait to share her happy news with Ethan. During her break at work, Ava had gone online and enrolled herself back into school. She currently had a nursing degree and it had always been her dream to one day become a doctor. Ethan was a law school student and recent graduate himself. They had spent many nights sharing all their dreams and aspirations with each other. Some of her favorite moments they had shared were during their pillow talks, speculating and imagining what their future together would be like. They would be a super couple, a lawyer and a doctor. Ava felt secure both in their success and their relationship. It turned out Ethan had some news of his own as well, but Ava never imagined when she saw the excited look in his eyes that it would mean the death of her own dreams and their life together as she knew it.
Ava served the meal she had prepared, absolutely brimming and she couldn’t wait to spill the beans. “Babe, I have amazing news!” she began, sure that her partner would be happy for her as well. “You’re pregnant!” Ethan guessed, only half kidding. Ava laughed at his eagerness, she thought it was touching that he felt so sure in wanting to start a family with her. Earlier that month, Ethan had popped the question and Ava hadn’t hesitated to say yes, but she wasn’t ready for children at this point in her life. “No, nothing like that…” she began again, but Ethan interrupted her. “Well, that may be in the cards for us soon,” Ethan told her. He went on to explain that his father had offered him a top position at the family’s law firm in Upstate New York and Ethan had accepted. While she was happy for him, Ava felt shocked and hurt that he would not consider even asking her first. He knew that she was only able to go to school based off of scholarships which were not easily transferable to another college, and even more so he knew how much becoming a doctor had meant to her. Ava loved the work she did at the V.A. hospital, she came from a military family and working with soldiers and war vets made her feel fulfilled. Now Ethan expected her to just give up everything and become some rich, stuffy housewife. It would be nice to never work again but not for Ava, she was truly passionate about her career. Her considerate and caring prince was treating her like a piece of property, she was to do as he said and not question a thing. They fought for hours on end but he still refused to see things her way and still refused to budge. She went to bed feeling broken and bruised, unsure now of what her future with him really meant.
Ava finally felt a sense of relief on her drive into work. It was nice to escape all the negativity that was left stagnant in her apartment and go out and do some good in the world. Ava knew how important her work at the V.A. was and she felt touched by the lives and the stories of every soldier she met. All of them had survived horrors that she couldn’t even begin to imagine and had fought valiantly and bravely for their country. They were good men and brave men, whom the war had done a great deal of damage to. She felt in a way grateful to be able to help them rehabilitate themselves and to heal from these wounds. Today she would be working with one of the hospitals newest patients. Being from such a small town, she felt as if she knew almost every soldier by name and knew their stories. Lucas had just returned back home from overseas where he had been injured by a roadside bombing. He had lost the usage of his right leg, but the doctor said his case was hopeful. With proper care and therapy he would be completely rehabilitated in a short amount of time. Ava loved hearing and seeing success stories first hand and she was sure that Lucas was going to be one of them.
Lucas was quieter and more reserved than her other patients but they still got along well. He was strikingly handsome, tall, dark and mysterious. All of the nurses clamored for a chance to work with him but it seemed that he liked Ava the best and would often times request to work with her specifically. It was not an uncommon sight for a soldier returning from war to be antisocial and only to feel comfortable around people they were familiar with already, so they doctor assigned Ava to him on a more permanent basis. It only took a short week for Lucas to warm up to Ava completely. He was a country boy born and raised, just like her and they got along very easily. She pushed and motivated him beyond his comfort level and he appreciated that. Ava could already see the attitude change in him from when he had first started coming to the V.A. He seemed more hopeful and positive about his recovery which really made her happy. The more they talked and the more they got to know each other, the more she liked him. Ava had always felt a close connection to her patients and getting to know them and their stories was all part of the process, but she felt like that in different circumstances her and Lucas could have been very close friends.
Hope
Ava was grateful to be working an earlier shift that day; it meant the rehab center would be mostly empty when she clocked in. She really wasn’t in the mood to exchange idle gossip and pleasantries with her co-workers. Ava normally did enjoy the talks she had with her patients however; and she found that their conversations were much more in depth and interesting than most. She had far too much on her mind today, all that she wanted was just to be left alone and get through her shift without incident.
Despite her foul mood, Ava couldn’t help but smile when she walked through the center’s double doors and saw that Lucas was already there waiting for her. He was always early for his sessions and his cheery disposition seemed to improve the mood of the whole space. Even despite his recent misfortunes, the man always wore a broad smile on his face. Despite the friendly vibes he gave off, Lucas was far less chatty than Ava’s other patients, but today that was just what she desired. He was always a pleasure to work with and one of her easiest cases. Instead of complaining and getting grouchy when a session got tough like most people did, Lucas would crack jokes to lighten up the mood and then try even harder to succeed. Ava had to give Lucas credit; he was as tough as nails. While his injury had temporarily taken away his mobility, it certainly did nothing to damage his sense of humor or pride.
Ava started to help Lucas stretch and warm up. She couldn’t help but linger on his ripped and toned muscles a few moments longer than she should have. Ava had helped him do the same exercises hundreds of times before, but she hadn’t really noticed just how large his muscles really were. She shook her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts, feeling guilty for letting her mind stray to another man other than Ethan.
Ava wondered if she really had a reason to feel guilty, she was unsure if she and Ethan even had a future together anymore. She had left home nearly two hours ago and surely Ethan was awake and had started his day by now. He hadn’t bothered to call or text her to apologize, or at least ask why she had snuck out of the house that morning. It had been the first and only time in their relationship that she had left home without giving him a goodbye kiss and it was if he hadn’t even noticed the difference. Surely he knew how upset she was, Ava had cried herself to sleep the night before, and all the while Ethan lay with his back facing her. She didn’t understand what had come over Ethan; none of this behavior was typical for him. There were no signs or clues that Ava could say she had seen this change coming. It was as if a switch suddenly flipped in his mind and he went from being a doting and loving boyfriend, to a cold and controlling monster all in one day.
Ava tried to pull her mind back to her work, she would be assisting Lucas on the treadmill today and the task required her full undivided attention. In the short months that Lucas had been attending physical therapy sessions he had made amazing progress. He was now able to walk and stand for long periods of time, although he usually still needed the assistance of a cane. Lucas was currently striving to be able to walk completely with out one. Ava got the sense that the prideful man was ashamed of having to use a cane at all, even if his injury had come about because of an act of bravery and valiance. As his nurse, Ava witnessed firsthand how much Lucas despised his cane and how desperately he was attempting to be rid of the thing for good, although she personally thought it gave him character. She knew he was strong and determined and that Lucas would be walking on his own in no time, but she wished he wouldn’t rush his progress. She could tell that he was in more pain then he let on, but would put on a brave face for her and his doctors.
Ava felt bad to admit it even to herself, but Lucas’ health wasn’t the only reason she hoped that he would extend his physical therapy for longer. Some of the other nurses didn’t always show such tact over the matter however, and would mill about the office whispering amongst each other. They made no secret of their attraction for Lucas and weren’t afraid to throw lewd and suggestive comments around. Ava kept catching her own mind wandering today while she glanced over Lucas’ body and watched his muscles ripple and flex with his every movement. She felt naughty and wrong for having these thoughts, but for the first time she honestly did not care. There was no harm in imagining what it would be like, and seeing how she would most likely wind up single soon enough, Ava would have only her imagination to rely on from then on out.
Lucas finished his therapy session with ease and Ava handed him a towel, licking her lips as she watched him wipe the sweat from his head with it. His body was practically glistening and it was the hottest thing she had ever seen. She could feel her own body responding unwillingly to the scenery. Ethan would never have been caught dead breaking a sweat; his wore his wealth on his sleeve and always had to be perfectly prim and proper. Ava had grown up in the country and with the concept that real men get their hands dirty; she wasn’t sure exactly why she had settled for a man like Ethan. Lucas cleared his throat, bringing Ava back to the present. She blushed brightly when she realized that she had been caught ogling her patient, even brighter when her gaze was returned with Lucas’ perfect smile. “How was the session today? Are you feeling okay?” Ava practically stuttered, feeling embarrassed and vulnerable. “Great!” Lucas answered enthusiastically. “Are you feeling okay?” The question took Ava by surprise; she wasn’t used to her patients reversing the roles on her. As if sensing her confusion, Lucas went on to explain himself. “You seem distracted today and quieter than usual. Every session you try your hardest to coax a conversation out of me and normally I’m the stubborn one, but today you didn’t even say a peep.” Ava found his concern to be both shocking and touching. She felt completely broken from her fight with Ethan and over his lack of compassion; she couldn’t help but feel comforted by the attention of a man, even if it wasn’t her own. “Yes, sorry for seeming distracted. I assure you that you had my undivided attention, I’m just feeling a little under the weather” Ava lied. She breathed a sigh of relief when Lucas seemed to believe her little fib. Ava quickly excused herself, Lucas had been her only appointment for the day and she couldn’t wait to go home just so she could hide away from the world and most importantly her problems.
Ava gathered her belongings and clocked out, scolding herself for her unprofessional behavior. She was faithful and loyal; Ava knew she could never cheat on Ethan. In Ava’s mind having inappropriate thoughts about anyone but her mate counted as an infidelity and it was more than reason to feel guilty. Her guilt turned into remorse and she busied her mind by making up excuses for Ethan on her drive back home. By the time she pulled into their driveway, Ava was sure that he hadn’t phoned because he had been called last minute into work. Once he returned home, they would talk everything out and both apologize to each other. Ethan had always been understanding and kind towards her, but he was only a human being. One little outburst didn’t make him a bad man or a bad boyfriend. His father had always put a certain amount of pressure on him to be a success and to join the family law firm. Surely Ethan knew that he could also be a success right here in Michigan and that he didn’t have to allow his family to dictate where they would live or what their futures were. Ava would even consider a move Upstate after she had finished medical school and gotten her degree. She would then have the experience and the credentials to apply for a position at the Veterans Hospital there. Ethan had always told Ava that her happiness was all he ever cared about in this world and he knew just how much this all meant to her. Surely their relationship and their respect for one another would enable them to come to a compromise. Ava was starting to feel better about the recent events in her life, maybe this argument was more of a test and a right of passage in her and Ethan’s relationship. After all, every couple had to overcome hardships and if this was the worst of their hardships, she was one lucky girl.
Ava climbed out of her car and took a deep breath as she stood. Ethan would be coming home in a few short hours and she needed to be calm and have a clear and open mind. Most of all she needed to show him that she was sorry for acting like a spoiled brat during their fight. Instead of pouting and crying, she should have taken the initiative and tried to talk things out. Instead of realizing that she was in fact blinded by love, Ava felt as if she had been blinded by her anger that night. Ethan had always treated her like a queen and the one and only time he had ever told her no, she completely lost her cool. They were engaged to be married, which meant they were family and family did not turn their backs on each other when the going got tough. Ava unlocked her apartment door, pausing for a moment to listen for sounds of anyone inside. Just as she had expected, Ethan was not home and Ava now felt sure that he had been called in last minute to work. He had gotten a job right after graduation working at one of his professor’s law firms. The firm was small but business was plentiful and Ethan was a star attorney there. It wasn’t uncommon for him to get a late night or last minute call to come into the office to help work on a tough case.
Ava put the kettle on, sitting across the kitchen on a stool as she waited for its familiar whistle. Something felt eerie and off in the apartment, but nothing seemed amiss. Ava dismissed the feelings, as far as she could see nothing seemed out of place in the home and she probably just felt unsettled because it was the first time she had been back there since the fight. She told herself to relax and that by this time tomorrow, all would be right between her and Ethan again. Ava decided to take a bubble bath which always seemed to help her calm down, taking her cup of tea with her for extra comfort and relaxation. She definitely needed to unwind after that much tension, both at home and at work. When Ethan came home, Ava wanted to feel refreshed and calm.
It wasn’t until Ava opened the couples shared closet that she noticed something was terribly wrong. All of Ethan’s clothes wer
e gone and so were his shoes. Ethan had a massive wardrobe and always boasted of his fashion sense, the now nearly bare closet felt like a sharp slap to the face. Ava ran over to his dresser, not even noticing that she had dropped her towel in her haste. She flung open each of Ethan’s drawers one by one, tears streaming down her face as she found them all the be empty. She tore apart what was once their shared bedroom, panicking as she found that seemingly every trace of her fiancé had been removed. Ava began to shiver violently, suddenly feeling very cold. She grabbed her bathrobe off the back of the bathroom door, glancing at the sink as she walked by. Ava hadn’t noticed as she readied herself for a bath, but even Ethan’s toothbrush was gone. She went back into the bedroom, laying in a fetal position in her now too large feeling bed. Ava sobbed loudly as everything sunk in and seemed to hit her all at once. Ethan had not been called into work today. He had not spent anytime concocting the perfect apology, just as Ava had. There would be no talks or great compromising between the pair. Ethan had left her, no goodbye or explanation. He had chosen his career and his wealth over her, and she was left feeling worthless and torn apart.
Ava called out of work the following day, wanting only to wallow in her own sorrow and despair. She couldn’t believe he had really gone no note, no call, not even a bad excuse left in his wake. Ethan had just packed his bags and left as if their relationship had meant nothing to him, as if Ava had meant nothing to him. She tried her best to keep a stiff upper lip, or at least appear as if she could. Ava vowed to herself that she would not call him; after all it was Ethan who had done her wrong. She owed him no explanations, apologies and she certainly would never beg for him to come back. It only took a few hours before she broke down and texted him, the first message simply reading “why?”. It was the same question that had been burning through her mind all day, why had he abandoned her? Why did he decide he no longer loved her? Why was it so easy for him to leave and forget about her? By eight pm that night Ava had sent Ethan over twenty text messages, each and every one remaining unanswered. Ava knew she had to face the music, Ethan was gone and he was not coming back. She knew that she would recover from this heartbreak and she still had dreams she wanted to achieve and a life of her own that she wanted to live. She promised herself that she would not shed another tear for the pompous jerk that had broken her heart. Ava also promised herself that it would be a cold day in hell before she foolishly let another man get close enough to her to hurt her again.
