Charlie's POV
The nurse gave me a reassuring smile and put her hand on the blanket covering my foot: Oh Yes, they are doing great, I will go ahead and tell the Dr you're awake and he can give you the details of everything else.
"Wait… they? Did you say they?"
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I assumed you would know, yes you're having twins"
I burst into tears not only from the shocking news that I was having twins but that they were both fine after such a traumatic event. My mind was racing, I clearly wasn't safe around Thomas if Tillie was going to try and kill me for being with him and she clearly had no quams about killing my babies either. I needed to take precautions until something could be done about Tillie: Mam? Could you make sure my medical condition is not shared with anyone but me, not even family, only me please?
The nurse's lips parted but her expression stayed the same for a moment: Y, yes of course Miss Miller.
Only moments after she left Thomas barged through the door, his eyes were red, and he looked crazed with worry. The expression he had made me feel sick knowing I was about to make it worse for him, he made it to my side but stopped only inches away from me, he could see fresh tears on my cheeks, and he wiped them away: Charlie.
Breathy and barely above a whisper his voice slow and broken as he leaned down to one knee placing a hand on my belly and looking back at mw: Is… is the baby? His eyes were filled with tears and his face full of torment as he waited for me to put him out of his misery by way of happiness or pain.
My eyes filled with tears and anguish knowing if I told him the truth, it would keep me and our babies in danger of another attack. He assumed the worst and a sob escaped his lips as he pulled me to him. I couldn't help but cry with him, not because our babies died but because I was hurting the one person I couldn't imagine hurting in a million years.
We sat and cried as he held me until we couldn't cry anymore, he pulled back to look at my face, wiping the tears from my eyes and saying: We're going to be okay Charlie.
The Dr walked in and Thomas hesitated to look away from me: Miss Miller could I speak with you alone please?
"Absolutely not!"
"Thomas, please just go. I have a few questions for the Dr. anyways and if you don't mind, I'd like some privacy."
Thomas was understandably taken back, and I could see that he was hurt by me asking him to leave but he complied and left the room, he stood directly outside of the window watching inside the entire time.
"How are you feeling Miss Miller?"
"I was hit by a Semi so about like that. If you don't mind Dr. could we skip pleasantries and just tell me what I need to know"
"Of course, well there was extensive internal damage not to mention your broken wrist and a concussion. The good news is that we were able to save your babies." I had to force myself to hold my expression so that Thomas wouldn't suspect anything "The bad news however is that there was substantial damage to one of your ovaries and I had no other choice but to remove it. Now while you still may be able to get pregnant it may make doing so extremely difficult, maybe even impossible depending on the activity of the remaining ovary. It also may cause you to go into early onset menopause which can have an effect on your health and may even cause other health issues down the line, but we can talk about that once you're feeling a little better."
I felt my body turn cold, I inhaled sharply as the news set into place and I looked up at Thomas with tears in my eyes, I watch his body lean slightly closer knowing he wanted to burst through the door.
This just cemented my decision, I cannot tell him about the babies, especially now that they may be the only ones that I will have. I have to keep them safe. No one from his world can know that I am pregnant, and I cannot see him again, not until I set things straight.
Thomas' POV
I didn't understand why Charlie would ask me to leave, she's clearly grieving and not thinking clearly. I wanted to punch the Dr in his face for even suggesting it. I watched through the window as he spoke and the look on her face suggested something more was wrong, she covered her mouth and started to cry, and it took everything in me not to rush to her side. It felt like weights had been placed on my chest as I waited to go in the room and comfort her.
As he walked out of the room, he looked up at me apologetically as he passed me and turned the corner. I walked in and Charlie had leaned to her side slightly, I could see her trembling and all I wanted to do was comfort her, I put my hand on her shoulder and her body stilled as she let out a sigh and her body started to calm: Charlie, will you tell me what happened?
Her body tensed and she wouldn't look at me, but she spoke, her words were broken and frail as if it took everything in her to not fall apart as she told me: He said… He… He said that I may not be able to have children in the future. Due… due to substantial damage to my ovary.
My head fell with the weight of devastation as I inhaled sharply and exhaled the burden of grief: Charlie... It was a horrific accident, and we've lost a lot, I know it feels like we will never get through it, but Charlie I promise we will in time.
She turned towards me with a look of anger I've never seen in her, as if she was a different person all together, she yelled: Accident? This is your fault; I want you to leave. I don't want to ever see you again.
"No Charlie you're not thinking clearly, just give it a few days"
"A few days won't bring my babies back"
"What?"
Her eyes widened and she lowered her head as she sighed: I was pregnant with twins!
It felt like I had been punched in the gut, and the breath was knocked out of me, I doubled over and held my knees trying to catch my breath when I heard her say: I'm sorry, I don't actually blame you. But Thomas I can't be with you anymore, I just can't.
I grabbed the table next to the bed until I could steady myself and then I sat at the edge of her bed to look into her eyes. A lump formed in my throat, and I had to swallow to speak but all that came out was a whimper at first: Charlie, please… please don't.
She shook her head as if to say her mind wouldn't be changed but I felt my life being taken from me and inside I was clawing and scratching to hold on to it: I love you
Her eyes were filled with tears and shock. I couldn't help but sob as the words fought their way out of my mouth: I love you so much Charlie, I can't live without you… Please don't make me live without you.
She lifted her hand near to my face, but she didn't touch me, she lowered it and once again turned away from me as she whispered: Please go Thomas.