A/N – Bear with me.
Torn Apart – Chapter 4
When you enter a room you don't always look at your surroundings.
But when you've stood on the doorway for almost half an hour you've learned every colour and corner of it.
But hospital rooms aren't really that interesting or colourful. It's the patient on the bed that brings life to the room.
When sunshine gets through the light curtains it reflects on the patient's face and makes them look even more fragile than they already are.
Fragile.
That was the most perfect word to describe the girl laying on the bed, Emily Bolton.
She looked even smaller under the thick covers. Her arms were layed besides her and her eyes were closed.
But with the sunshine on her face she looked more beautiful than ever.
Her parents stood by the door, hand in hand, and kept staring at her. They tried to memorize every shape of her body and every smile that had ever played on those lips.
It was a little difficult with the big tube that was going down her throat.
But the hardest thing were her eyes.
They would never see the happy twinkle in them, never see the tears that would flow whenever she was hurt.
Troy looked at Gabriella and was a little surprised to see a sad smile playing on her lips.
Gabriella could feel Troy's look but kept her gaze at her daughter.
''She looks peaceful,'' she said as tears began to roll down her cheeks once again. There was no reason to be strong at the moment – with Troy she felt more safe than ever.
Troy tightened his hold of her hand.
They took a step forward.
Troy put his arms around Gabriella's shoulders for silent support as she started to sob.
By their little girl's bed the situation really hit them.
They looked at Emily with blurry eyes and appreciated the time they had left with her.
A nurse entered the room too soon.
''It's time,'' she said with a soft voice and took her place on the other side of the bed. She stood next to Emily's heart monitor.
Once the right button would be pressed – it would all be over.
The nurse has kind eyes, Troy thought to himself.
''You ready?'' the nurse asked softly.
''Wait,'' Gabriella said.
She bent over the bed and kissed her child on the cheek. Troy could hear a faint ''I love you'' being whispered.
Troy did the same thing, but he also whispered ''We'll see you in heaven'' in her ear.
The nurse had teary eyes too, but still she managed to keep her finger on the button.
Troy gave her a small nod.
They saw a flat line and at the same moment Emily's chest rose no more.
Gabriella started to sob harder and Troy couldn't stop the tears from falling either.
Memories kept flashing before their eyes and they felt kind of at peace.
A tired looking Gabriella holding their newborn in her arms.
A laughing Emily getting up and taking her first steps.
Troy and Emily sleeping peacefully besides each other and a smiling Gabriella taking pictures of them.
Emily blowing candles besides her cake when she turned two.
Emily and Sophie swimming in the ocean and playing in the sandbox.
Emily taking her pack and waving goodbyes to her parents.
''Come on, Emily, it's bedtime,'' Troy said and scooped a tired looking baby girl off the floor.
Gabriella walked pass them and kissed Emily on the cheek. ''Good night, honey.''
Troy smiled at her and walked to Emily's nursery. He dimmed the lights so that Emily could fall asleep faster.
He put her down on the table and changed her diapers. She giggled when he tickled her and tried to grap his fingers.
Troy lifted her up once again and placed her on the bed. He put the covers on her and kissed her on the cheek.
''Good night, honey.''
''Dada,'' was the last thing he heard before he closed the door.
''Bolton family faces a tragedy: Daughter dies tragically.''
It was all over the news.
People were shocked – there was no going around it.
Papers were filled with pictures of Troy and Gabriella at the game and entering the hospital.
There were rumours of the cause of the accident – most of them were completely rubbish.
Like for example they said that Emily had been kidnapped and tortured – that Troy and Gabriella had just put on brave faces in public.
It would be a real dissapointment if people really knew what had happened.