(Part 3)
ONE MONTH LATER *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Love is not blind- it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less." ~Rabbi Julius Gordon
The icy night wind blasted through the door which led to the hospital rooftop. Abby moved backwards, taken back by the sudden rush. It was supposed to be spring, a season of life and new beginnings, but in Chicago it felt more like the dead of winter. The air had a bite to it. Once she had made her way past the door, she breathed a sigh of relief. She was alone. Now no one could see her cry. As she moved closer to the ledge and looked at over the city she had called home for the past few years, she was dimly aware of the shadow that had followed her here.
"Jonathon Carter, I presume?" Abby said into the darkness, not turning to face him. She wouldn't have him see her like this; couldn't.
"You presumed correctly," Carter answered good-naturedly. The shadow moved closer to her. "At least you didn't use my middle name; I don't know if I would ever forgive you for that." He was trying too hard; they both knew that.
After silence on Abby's part, Carter continued. "Hey, you're not going to jump now, are you? 'Cause believe me, it's been attempted before and it wasn't pretty down in the ER." he trailed off, realizing Abby had tensed up. It dawned on him that he wasn't exactly helping the situation.
After an uncomfortable silence between them, Carter dared to speak again. This time, all hints of light-heartedness was gone, replaced by deep concern. He wanted to tell her that he's there for her; that he could really make a difference if she'd let him past the façade. That their friendship meant more to him than she'd ever know. But instead he only said two simple words.
"You OK?"
It was a few moments before Abby turned around to look at Carter. He could feel her search his face for something, although he couldn't figure out what.
"I'm fine Dr. Carter," she replied coolly before stealing one last glimpse at the starry sky and walking back to the emergency room.
This was too much. She couldn't handle this; not now. Why did everything in her life have to be so damn messed up? Why her? Abby walked briskly down a large corridor. As a million other unanswered questions and emotions flooded her mind, she was relieved to find the room she was looking for.
"Are you sure?" Abby asked, but already knowing of the answer.
"Yes. Positive." The young female doctor answered calmly, confirming Abby's fears. "Do you have any questions Ms. Lockhart?"
Abby shook her head. She knew all she needed to know. Knowing any more would just be even more overwhelming. She chided herself for not being stronger.
"Well, be sure to call me if you need anything," the doctor led Abby out into the quiet hall. "Oh, and Ms. Lockhart? I really am sorry."
"Thanks," Abby mumbled before turning to leave, unsure where she would go from here.
ONE MONTH LATER *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Love is not blind- it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less." ~Rabbi Julius Gordon
The icy night wind blasted through the door which led to the hospital rooftop. Abby moved backwards, taken back by the sudden rush. It was supposed to be spring, a season of life and new beginnings, but in Chicago it felt more like the dead of winter. The air had a bite to it. Once she had made her way past the door, she breathed a sigh of relief. She was alone. Now no one could see her cry. As she moved closer to the ledge and looked at over the city she had called home for the past few years, she was dimly aware of the shadow that had followed her here.
"Jonathon Carter, I presume?" Abby said into the darkness, not turning to face him. She wouldn't have him see her like this; couldn't.
"You presumed correctly," Carter answered good-naturedly. The shadow moved closer to her. "At least you didn't use my middle name; I don't know if I would ever forgive you for that." He was trying too hard; they both knew that.
After silence on Abby's part, Carter continued. "Hey, you're not going to jump now, are you? 'Cause believe me, it's been attempted before and it wasn't pretty down in the ER." he trailed off, realizing Abby had tensed up. It dawned on him that he wasn't exactly helping the situation.
After an uncomfortable silence between them, Carter dared to speak again. This time, all hints of light-heartedness was gone, replaced by deep concern. He wanted to tell her that he's there for her; that he could really make a difference if she'd let him past the façade. That their friendship meant more to him than she'd ever know. But instead he only said two simple words.
"You OK?"
It was a few moments before Abby turned around to look at Carter. He could feel her search his face for something, although he couldn't figure out what.
"I'm fine Dr. Carter," she replied coolly before stealing one last glimpse at the starry sky and walking back to the emergency room.
This was too much. She couldn't handle this; not now. Why did everything in her life have to be so damn messed up? Why her? Abby walked briskly down a large corridor. As a million other unanswered questions and emotions flooded her mind, she was relieved to find the room she was looking for.
"Are you sure?" Abby asked, but already knowing of the answer.
"Yes. Positive." The young female doctor answered calmly, confirming Abby's fears. "Do you have any questions Ms. Lockhart?"
Abby shook her head. She knew all she needed to know. Knowing any more would just be even more overwhelming. She chided herself for not being stronger.
"Well, be sure to call me if you need anything," the doctor led Abby out into the quiet hall. "Oh, and Ms. Lockhart? I really am sorry."
"Thanks," Abby mumbled before turning to leave, unsure where she would go from here.