Don't own it, blah, blah, blah
He held her as she died.
This was the price. The price for driving too fast with his two year old son, wife, and unborn baby in the car.
The price for living so crazy when he was young.
The price for taking a sixteen-year-old virgin to bed.
The price for marrying that girl, not being able to let her go, for loving her too damn much.
He didn't see the SUV. It came out of nowhere.
It hit, she flew out the window, their son shrieked, and he passed out.
She hadn't felt good. That's why they had left Georgia's so soon. It wasn't uncommon, as nausea had gripped her during the last five months.
But every time he had told her to complain, because he knew what it took out of her, she had smiled, and said it was worth it.
Because in four months, they would have a new baby. A girl, she had been positive. A baby girl for him to spoil. Finn would have a baby sister.
He was driving too fast. She told him to slow down, but he felt in control of the car, and refused. When the SUV hit them, he heard shattering glass and a toddler's cries before he passed out.
When he woke up, he saw her on the pavement, bleeding.
He checked Finn, making sure that their son was ok. She would have wanted that.
Then he went to her. He picked her up, cradling her gently. The baby was gone; their little daughter was dead. But Jude, she was still breathing, still alive, still with him.
When she opened her eyes, however, he knew she was going to die. She was struggling for breath, blood leaking from her mouth.
"Tommy." It was quite, so quite he almost didn't hear her. He looked down at the great love of his life, and wondered what to say. What could he say? He had caused the baby's death, and now hers too.
"Jude, I'm sorry." He blinked back tears. She smiled at him, looking tired.
"It's ok, Tommy. I love you." She said thickly. "Is Finn alright?"
"Yes."
"Good. Take care of him, Tommy. He'll need you now."
"Nah. What good is a father, when he has his mother? We've never had that connection, you and him have always gotten along so much better."
"Tommy, don't. I'm dying, we both know it. Promise you'll take care of him. He won't understand."
"Jude…"
"Promise me!"
"I promise. I'm sorry." His voice cracked. He started crying. "I love you, so much."
She smiled again. "I love you too." Her eyes started to close. He held her closer, sobbing now. And then, she was gone.
That was the price he paid.
He missed out on a baby girl to spoil, and growing old with Jude because of his stupidity. That was the price.