Chapter 10

The young woman had woken up gently that morning . She was surprised to not feel the powerful body of William over hers. She turned her head to the pillow of her husband still smell his perfume and warm sheets. He was getting up just a few minutes before. Julia gently prepared, noticing small red marks on her chest, between her breasts and down her neck, she ate breakfast, which was already on the table in the lounge. William had thought of everything, but she had not seen him. She had joined the police station, but she hadn't enter, she did not know if William wanted to see her. They had not talked after all, she did not know what his feelings were, his emotions about what had happened the day before. Julia was still worried, worried that he still angry about her and that he may be regretted for having made love last night. She, she did not regret, rare were the times they had made love in this way, in a way so tender and intense at the same time.

Julia hesitated a moment before sighing deeply and take the way to the morgue to get in and get to work, retreating when she would face William and the moment she was going to talk to him, finally. She set to work, and gently, she forgot her darkest thoughts to focus on an autopsy. She nearly led in the greatest silence, only giving some instructions and information to Rebecca who found a little more relaxed than other days, but still a little concerned.

Julia was busy sewing up the body of the poor man died naturally, when the young woman she went to the door.

-I'll be there in an hour Madam, she said while Julia looked up at her.

-Take your time for lunch, we are not overwhelmed. I finish the stitching and his report and I will be making a turn to stretch my legs, too.

-See you later, Rebecca replied, smiling.

-See you later, Julia whispered in the same way before she looks her leave the morgue without looking back.

Dr. Ogden focused on her task again, enjoying the silence of the morgue, before putting the body in the cold, clean tools and whashed her hands . Then she went to her office and she took a pen to complete her report. But Julia could only write a few words, soon lost in thought. She closed her eyes a few seconds and without realizing it, she plunged back into her memories , in her darkest nightmares.

The rain was falling hard to the dark when she entered the building, when she kept crying and running away. She trembled all the way, for fear of being discovered, we know she was going to an abortionist. She waited a few minutes before entering the room lit by dozens of candles arranged around a table covered with a white sheet. Man face she had looked forward to a moment before telling her to undress, keeping only her stockings and shirt. She did, uncomfortable to lie on her back and look at the ceiling. She felt the hands of the old man on her, the feel many times in ways that did not please her. She clenched her teeth and held her breath when she spread her legs and buried his face between. He spoke very little and Julia had little replied, feeling the pain getting stronger gradually as he was making his examination, as and he destroyed the life, and forever . Julia had felt tears sliding down her cheeks, much more painful than what was happening in her. She saw the little body covered in blood, his little hands, his little feet, his belly. She saw that it was a boy, the child was barely formed and he would still have many months to live in her belly to come to an end, but she already felt a huge sense of guilt. That of having destroyed an innocent life. She thought it was the only choice, because she knew she would never have been able to give birth to this child, take him in her arms and then abandon him. Julia convinces herself that she had done what she had, she would have children later, with a good man, when she had done her duty, when she would become Doctor. She was young, she had time to live. Then she looked frail little body, this child died, and slowly falling into unconsciousness, the pain in her belly so strong that she could no longer fight and she simply asleep, the blood flowing profusely on her legs.

When she woke up two days later, she had put her hand on her flat stomach, she still hurt, she was disoriented. Isaac had been at her side, he had told her what had happened. She had nearly died but was now out of danger and he would keep her secret. He swore that day that he would never let any woman in the same distress as hers. He also told her that the patrician had hurt his work, he had damaged her body more than necessary. She would never have a child, not now, not ever, never.

When William came into the morgue and saw his wife prostrate at her office, he froze, holding his breath. Yet he had seen hundreds of times in this place, he had watched her sleep that morning, but once again she was beautiful, so beautiful that it cut his breath. He took a deep breath and walked toward her, without her noticing, but without leaves her from the eye. Julia looked up, he saw the tears dancing in her eyes and down her cheeks. On one side of the handle, she wiped them and got up into a jump.

-William ... I ... do you need something?

-No I just ... I came to see you. I want to apologize for the words that I had last night.

She smiled shyly but did not move, he then approached a little of her to take her hand and on the other he touched the fingertips her cheek to wipe her tears.

-I ... I have not seen you this morning, Julia stammered plunging her eyes into his, I thought ...

-I did not mean to wake you, William replied with a shrug.

She did not answer and she didn't left her eyes away from him, savoring the feel of his hand on her skin and his dancing fingers with hers.

-Julia, William whispered, stepping closer to her, why are you weeping?

-I regret William, she sobbed without looking, I regret what I have done in the past, I'm sorry I almost lost you so many times because of this and more than anything else on this Earth, I'm afraid of losing you.

-You do not lose me, the young man replied, taking her in his arms, tell me what you were thinking when I arrived, he muttered, shoving his face in her hair as she snuggled against his chest.

-My abortion.

At these words, she felt the William tense for a moment before he tightens his grip a little around her and he kisses above her ear.

-I think you should tell me, he murmured, stroking up and down the back of Julia, you suffer as much too.

-I ... can not, she said between her teeth, I know you're going to suffer, that this is against your principles and ...

She did not finish her sentence William away feeling just barely to take her chin and to look at him. They stayed a few seconds their eyes plunged into that of the other before William takes the floor.

-At this moment, there is only you who matters Julia. Let me help you to talk about this, no matter how I feel, do not think. It is a painful event and you need to talk about. I'm here, I can hear everything, I do not judge you, I do not love you less though it may happen. But we need to talk, to go forward.

She did not answer right away, once again feeling the tears slide down her cheeks, then she simply nodded, pursing her lips, closing her eyes. William leaned in to placed a tender kiss on her mouth.

-Come, he blew gently, we'll have lunch.

-I do not know if I want to see people William I ...

-I told you "lunch" not to go to the restaurant, said the young man, taking her by the hand, we will be alone. I want to show you something.

He dragged her behind him but Julia paused, frowning. He turned to her, worried about having said or done something wrong when he saw the look of Julia landed on his wounds to his right hand.

-William? What happened to you? Julia asked, looking up at him.

-Well, I ... stammered the young man who remembered perfectly well the reaction of his wife when he was hit Darcy Garland in the street ... I had a discussion with ...

-With? Repeated the young woman approaching him.

-With ... Richard Hatkins.

-Oh, you talked.

-In reality no, I ... I just hit him, William whispered in sighs fleeing her gaze to pay attention to his shoes, and I told him never to approach you again.

He did not see the smile of Julia born on her lips and slowly, she approached him to put her free hand on his chest and meet his eyes.

-You do that?

-Julia, I know ...

He did not finish the sentence she pressed her lips against his for a kiss. When she stepped back a few seconds later, he saw that she was smiling.

-You are my hero Detective William Murdoch and the most perfect husband.

He smiled at her and she saw him blush before resuming their journey, leaving the morgue hand in hand, smiling shyly.

to be continued ...!