Ethan didn't know where to go or what to do. Several hours had passed after Gwen had told him off. Initially he thought of arguing with her, thinking that she wasn't clear of what she was doing. That it was just anger taking over her. But it was then Ethan realized it was much more than that. He had come to terms with Gwen's feelings. She wanted nothing to do with him. It was her chance of pulling the plug before another similar incident could occur. They both knew on some level that Ethan would never change. This reality didn't seem to grip Ethan at first. So stubborn that he hadn't realized his presence only upset his wife even more. They needed to take a long break from each other. Was it forever? Who knew. All Ethan was sure of was that nothing he could say seemed change Gwen's mind.
"Ethan?"
It was her again. That woman he risked everything for. His marriage and his baby. It had all escaped from his grasp. Nothing could change the broken limbs and scars from his actions. Ethan wanted to put an end to it all. He really did, but at the same time, almost didn't want to. Whether it was now or in the near future, Ethan would have cheated on Gwen eventually. He was just like that. Too weak and too vulnerable to Theresa. There was always something about her that made him want her. He just hated himself for putting his innocent child at risk just so he could set his feelings straight. The true way of his desires lay in Theresa's hands now. He was almost sure that Gwen would never come back to him. His high school sweetheart would now just be a sweet memory at the back of his mind, and his baby, buried along side.
"Ethan, I know you don't want to see me right now but I couldn't stay away. I couldn't leave the hospital knowing you were so upset."
She placed her hand on his shoulder, something he least expected. He thought that after his long, silent treatment she would have just left him alone. But she didn't. She still lingered on, even though everyone wanted her to go away.
"I wish you would have just left when I asked you to Theresa. I don't want Gwen to find you here."
Ethan's head remained collapsed at ground level. He could hardly mouth out the words that escaped his mouth. Just the pure disgust of his ways made him dread anything and everything coming his way. Everything he had done seemed like it was a mistake and somehow Theresa sensed that. She always knew when he was hurting the most.
"Please don't push me away this time Ethan. I know you are hurt and I'm here to help you get through it. Won't you let me, Ethan? Won't you let me into your life again?"
~*~
The buzz of his watch was dreadfully louder than usual. Doctor Abel knew it was time to go home. He looked down at his wrist. 2:00 a.m. Everything around him was dead silent. All he heard was the sound of his shoes as they marched down the narrow hallway. He didn't want to leave knowing she was there. That she was all alone. Surrounded by nothing except cruel darkness. Perhaps he could just momentarily check up on her. Just in case she needed someone. So there Dr. Abel was, almost running to his patient's room. He made it, his breathing enhancing greatly. All that there was left standing in between them was the curtain. He let the fabric suffocate in his hand as he gradually pulled aside the divider. To Dr. Abel's complete outrage, there was already someone there by Gwen's side. Her husband, Ethan. At first Dr. Abel prepared himself to physically separate them from each other but stopped himself just as he noticed Gwen was asleep. Her expression was of content and of indulgement. Ethan's hand lay just above her forehead, sinking into her blonde locks. He sat next to her bedside, learning over extra close enough to here her breath. Both of them looked like they were rejoicing in silent peace. As if celebrating the fact that they were now together. Was it possible they had worked things out? The thought alone sickened Dr. Abel. What was he going to do now? Just leave them be? How could he know? Not when he felt his connection to Gwen advancing. He couldn't just set aside his feelings for her even though deep done that was best. Dr. Abel was a respected doctor. It was time he stood by his reputation. He would make a promise to himself right now. He wouldn't allow himself to get severely involved in his patient's personal life. For his sake and Gwen's. He had no right to barge in and tell them what was what and how things should be. He cared for Gwen too much to not let her make the decision. After all, there was a great chance she still loved Ethan. Dr. Abel had heard and read countless stories about them ever since he was a teenager. There would always be a story about the Crane and Hotchkiss relations and how close they were to intertwining. It was all thanks to the arrangements for Gwen and Ethan to marry. He wasn't sure if they even had time to fall in love. The marriage plans seemed all too soon. They were still so young and yet had so much pressure to be together. Dr. Abel could even remember seeing photographs of the hot couple. They always seemed happy together. As if they were in love, but looks could have been deceiving. After all, Ethan had fallen in love with another woman. Anything was possible. Dr. Abel could hardly begin to picture how Gwen must have felt when she learned the truth. So heartbroken just like she was presently. Ethan had hurt her once more. He only wished he knew what was running through her mind. Did she have enough of Ethan's lies or would she forgive him once more?
"Gwen, I know deep down you still care for me. No matter what, I still will love you too. I just wish I could make you forgive me. If you were to, I promise I would be the best husband there ever was. I'm going to devote my life to you like I should have previously. All marriages have there ups and downs and what we have to do is fight through them all. But we can't move on unless we heal together. Our precious baby girl. I know you miss her deeply and so do I. I'll never forgive myself for doing this to you. I love you too much to let you go. I hope you know that. That I love you."
Dr. Abel quickly turned his head away as Ethan's placed an enduring yet soft kiss on his wife's forehead. There had to be a way to forget about this woman. She was married. She deserved a chance to be with her husband if she wished to be. It was time for Dr. Abel to step aside and just bury his new feelings for her away. Perhaps in the future he could still keep in contact with Gwen. Just to see how her life is going for her. And maybe if she were to break off things with Ethan then he could....
No! What was he thinking? He was being far too selfish. He refused to take advantage of Gwen being vulnerable. For all he knew, maybe she didn't need him saving her. She was an independent and strong lady. She would heal over time.
"Hopefully." Dr. Abel mouthed with a silent tear striking down his face, as he turned his back on the scene in front of him and disappeared into the lonely hallway.
~*~
"Ethan?"
It was her again. That woman he risked everything for. His marriage and his baby. It had all escaped from his grasp. Nothing could change the broken limbs and scars from his actions. Ethan wanted to put an end to it all. He really did, but at the same time, almost didn't want to. Whether it was now or in the near future, Ethan would have cheated on Gwen eventually. He was just like that. Too weak and too vulnerable to Theresa. There was always something about her that made him want her. He just hated himself for putting his innocent child at risk just so he could set his feelings straight. The true way of his desires lay in Theresa's hands now. He was almost sure that Gwen would never come back to him. His high school sweetheart would now just be a sweet memory at the back of his mind, and his baby, buried along side.
"Ethan, I know you don't want to see me right now but I couldn't stay away. I couldn't leave the hospital knowing you were so upset."
She placed her hand on his shoulder, something he least expected. He thought that after his long, silent treatment she would have just left him alone. But she didn't. She still lingered on, even though everyone wanted her to go away.
"I wish you would have just left when I asked you to Theresa. I don't want Gwen to find you here."
Ethan's head remained collapsed at ground level. He could hardly mouth out the words that escaped his mouth. Just the pure disgust of his ways made him dread anything and everything coming his way. Everything he had done seemed like it was a mistake and somehow Theresa sensed that. She always knew when he was hurting the most.
"Please don't push me away this time Ethan. I know you are hurt and I'm here to help you get through it. Won't you let me, Ethan? Won't you let me into your life again?"
~*~
The buzz of his watch was dreadfully louder than usual. Doctor Abel knew it was time to go home. He looked down at his wrist. 2:00 a.m. Everything around him was dead silent. All he heard was the sound of his shoes as they marched down the narrow hallway. He didn't want to leave knowing she was there. That she was all alone. Surrounded by nothing except cruel darkness. Perhaps he could just momentarily check up on her. Just in case she needed someone. So there Dr. Abel was, almost running to his patient's room. He made it, his breathing enhancing greatly. All that there was left standing in between them was the curtain. He let the fabric suffocate in his hand as he gradually pulled aside the divider. To Dr. Abel's complete outrage, there was already someone there by Gwen's side. Her husband, Ethan. At first Dr. Abel prepared himself to physically separate them from each other but stopped himself just as he noticed Gwen was asleep. Her expression was of content and of indulgement. Ethan's hand lay just above her forehead, sinking into her blonde locks. He sat next to her bedside, learning over extra close enough to here her breath. Both of them looked like they were rejoicing in silent peace. As if celebrating the fact that they were now together. Was it possible they had worked things out? The thought alone sickened Dr. Abel. What was he going to do now? Just leave them be? How could he know? Not when he felt his connection to Gwen advancing. He couldn't just set aside his feelings for her even though deep done that was best. Dr. Abel was a respected doctor. It was time he stood by his reputation. He would make a promise to himself right now. He wouldn't allow himself to get severely involved in his patient's personal life. For his sake and Gwen's. He had no right to barge in and tell them what was what and how things should be. He cared for Gwen too much to not let her make the decision. After all, there was a great chance she still loved Ethan. Dr. Abel had heard and read countless stories about them ever since he was a teenager. There would always be a story about the Crane and Hotchkiss relations and how close they were to intertwining. It was all thanks to the arrangements for Gwen and Ethan to marry. He wasn't sure if they even had time to fall in love. The marriage plans seemed all too soon. They were still so young and yet had so much pressure to be together. Dr. Abel could even remember seeing photographs of the hot couple. They always seemed happy together. As if they were in love, but looks could have been deceiving. After all, Ethan had fallen in love with another woman. Anything was possible. Dr. Abel could hardly begin to picture how Gwen must have felt when she learned the truth. So heartbroken just like she was presently. Ethan had hurt her once more. He only wished he knew what was running through her mind. Did she have enough of Ethan's lies or would she forgive him once more?
"Gwen, I know deep down you still care for me. No matter what, I still will love you too. I just wish I could make you forgive me. If you were to, I promise I would be the best husband there ever was. I'm going to devote my life to you like I should have previously. All marriages have there ups and downs and what we have to do is fight through them all. But we can't move on unless we heal together. Our precious baby girl. I know you miss her deeply and so do I. I'll never forgive myself for doing this to you. I love you too much to let you go. I hope you know that. That I love you."
Dr. Abel quickly turned his head away as Ethan's placed an enduring yet soft kiss on his wife's forehead. There had to be a way to forget about this woman. She was married. She deserved a chance to be with her husband if she wished to be. It was time for Dr. Abel to step aside and just bury his new feelings for her away. Perhaps in the future he could still keep in contact with Gwen. Just to see how her life is going for her. And maybe if she were to break off things with Ethan then he could....
No! What was he thinking? He was being far too selfish. He refused to take advantage of Gwen being vulnerable. For all he knew, maybe she didn't need him saving her. She was an independent and strong lady. She would heal over time.
"Hopefully." Dr. Abel mouthed with a silent tear striking down his face, as he turned his back on the scene in front of him and disappeared into the lonely hallway.
~*~