The cold winter air blew Clare's hair into her face, gently tickling her ears as she walked hand in hand with Eli. They had been keeping things casual, more like friends with benefits than an actual relationship, it was just less chaotic that way. That's why Clare wasn't sure how she was going to tell him about the pregnancy, she felt like she was in high school all over again. They were walking home from a late night screening of one of their favourite movies and Clare thought now would be the perfect time to tell him. She took a deep breath and was about to speak when a gang of teenagers started approaching. She held onto Eli a little tighter, he looked over at her. "Don't worry, they're just kids, they won't bother us" Eli said, at least that's what he thought. He had been living in New York a lot longer than Clare had and so this sort of thing didn't bother him. Despite this being a rough neighbourhood he had walked this way hundreds of times. Unfortunately this time it was different, those teenagers were there for a purpose - a gang initiation. The newest member had to kill someone to prove his worth.
The young man approached them, his hands shaking before he pulled out a gun, Eli instinctively stood in front of Clare, even though he was nervous he seemed calm and collected assuming this was just a kid desperate for money and he would rather give up his wallet than risk Clare's life. However in a matter of seconds the young man's clear intentions were known. He pulled the trigger with tears in his eyes and then again and again. The sounds of gunshots rang through the air as Eli fell to the floor in a pool of blood. Clare screamed but no sound came out, she was in shock. She fell to her knees beside him as the group of teenagers ran. Eli was semi conscious as he lay there, his eyes half open.
"Clare I have to tell you something" he said weakly.
"Y-you can tell me later because you're going to be fine. We're going to be fine okay?" she had tears streaming down her face, she wished they hadn't taken such a quiet street. Eli shook his hand and gently grabbed her hand, the two were now covered in his blood.
"I love you. I just need you to know that. I really really love you"
"I love you too. So you have to stay awake okay? Just focus on me. You're gonna be okay. You have to be, because there's something I need to tell you too" she took a deep breath. "You can't go because you're going to be a father. I'm pregnant and I need you, this baby needs you" but Eli wasn't responsive anymore, his eyes closing slowly. "No! No! Somebody help!" she screamed. A man out walking hs dog rushed over. "Call 911!" she yelled, holding Eli close to her. He was already gone but she couldn't process that, she couldn't handle the thought of him being gone, not now, not like this"
As paramedics arrived Clare refused to let go of Eli, one of the medics had to pull her away from him and get her in the ambulance. It was clear she was in shock and that wasn't safe especially for the baby. The paramedics turned all their attention on her after their attempts to save Eli were unsuccessful. This only made Clare freak out more. "I'm fine you need to help him please. Please you have to help him" she repeated this over and over, the paramedics just exchanged a glance, Clare knew that look, it was the look the doctor gave her when hw told her that her baby boy would be stillborn all those years ago back in high school. She felt her chest tighten, she couldn't breathe, she felt like she was dying. She felt a sharp pain in her arm where the paramedic had injected her with a sedative. It wasn't long before everything went black...