Chapter 28
I’m assuming the medication has kicked in and the process is starting. After about twenty minutes, I start to hear her faintly crying.
Not even thinking twice, I make my way to the bathroom door. I knock softly… “Hey… Любовь…How are you doing? Do you need anything?” I’ve only met with the sounds of her softly crying. “Juni, I’m sorry, but I’m coming in.”
“Gavin! No!” But it’s too late. I'm already opening the door. The sight before me is heartbreaking. Juni is sweating, and chills are visible. I can tell she’s getting dizzy, too.
“Hey...hey...shhhhhh,” I say as I kneel next to her and cup my hand over her feverish cheek. “Look at me, Juni.” Her beautiful hazel-green, tear-filled eyes meet mine. “Just breathe for me, okay? I heard you crying. I couldn’t just sit there, I won’t let you go through this alone.. Again.”
We have shared our deepest secrets. I know the abuse she grew up with.
I know that she was assaulted as a child, which resulted in pregnancy, but her body rejected it before she even knew she was pregnant.
She was just a child. Alone and scared. I couldn’t just sit there knowing what she's going through, alone in here.
Her pain starts getting stronger, and her body seems to be running hotter. Sweat breaks out even more across her temple and forehead. Without even thinking. I walk over to the shower and turn on the water.
“Let's get you in the shower, okay, Juni? The water is going to help soothe your pain.”
“Gavin. No, you can’t see me like this.”
“It's nothing I haven’t seen before, Juni. And I’m not looking at you like that, okay? Can you just trust me?”
I help her strip from the waist down, leaving her bra and tank top on. I take off my steel-toe boots, along with my socks, jeans, and T-shirt.
Yes. I’m in my boxers in a tiny bathroom with a partially naked Juni, but it’s not like that, and I’m not looking. I’m just here for moral support.
I guide her into the shower, and I follow in after.
The water isn’t as hot as I'd hoped, but it’s enough.
I guide her to the opposite side of the showerhead, have her place her hands on the wall, and have her lean against it.
I aim the shower head so it’s hitting her lower back and, hopefully, melting away some of the tension that's gathered there.
I start rubbing her lower back in small circles. Her body tenses, and she sinks into a crouching position. I crouch down behind her, still rubbing her back as it seems to help with the pain.
After a few minutes, her body releases what I assume is the baby. She wasn’t very far along, so it’s mostly just blood clots. I haven’t really looked, but I know we are standing in the aftermath.
She starts crying right away. Body shaking. Should I hold her? Gently grabbing her shoulder, I turn her to face me. We stand chest to chest, I place my palm on her tear-streaked face.
“Juni, let’s get you cleaned up, okay? Do you think you can do it? If you can, I'll turn around. If you can’t, I’ll help you.”
Emotion clogging her voice. “I can do it, just please don’t leave me.”
“I’m right here, it’s okay,” I say as I turn my head in the opposite direction.
Once she confirms she’s finished, I grab her lavender body wash and make quick work of getting myself cleaned off as well.
Turning off the water, I step out first. “Uh… just stay in here for a second, okay? I need to take these boxers off before I can put my jeans back on.
Once I’m redressed, minus my soaking-wet boxers, we are free balling for the rest of the day.
“What dresser is yours in the bedroom?” I ask quietly.
“It's the longest one. With the pile of sweatshirts on top.”
“I’ll be right back, okay? I’m going to get you some warm, dry clothes.” I disappear into their bedroom and make my way to the dresser. I grab the softest sweatpants she has and an old band tee. I also grab her a new sports bra and a pair of socks from her drawer while I’m at it.
Reentering the bathroom, I tap on the wall to let her know I’m back.
Slowly opening the curtain. I hand her the bath towel.
I slowly guide her to the toilet and make her sit down.
I dress her feet in socks. And as I’m looking around.
They got the supplies ready. There is a pack of adult diapers by the door.
I grab one and bring it over to where she’s sitting. But she won’t look at me.
“Hey, it’s okay. Nothing to be ashamed of, okay?” I slip her legs through the holes, followed by her sweatpants. I turn around as she replaces her wet tank top and bra with the new ones I brought from her room.
Once she’s dressed, I take the brush off the counter and mindlessly start brushing her hair. Once I have it thoroughly brushed through, I pick her up, bridal-style, and make my way back to the living room.
As we come back into the room. Peyton jumps off of Brenden’s lap. Hmm.. I’m not going to ask questions I don’t want answers to.
Slowly, I gently put her down on the couch and cover her up with the blanket she was using earlier.
She looks so tired; I won’t be surprised if she falls asleep in the next few minutes. I take the SIG case back to her bedroom. Opening the biggest drawer of her dresser, I put it on the bottom and covered it with clothes. We will deal with that once she’s healed and her spirits are up.
Walking back to the living room and finding her asleep. I gently kiss her temple and tell Brenden we should get going. “If you could, Peyton, keep me updated, okay? I need to get out of here.”