The painful parallel

Hope called Charmaine when they left the hospital.

Charmaine! I am Hope. I need to tell you something. But first, you must sit and stay calm. Everything is fine now.

She sat down, but suddenly her body was all covered in sweat.

What's that? Tell me now!

Jack was shot at the bar. He's in the hospital now, in Grace Valley. He was operated and survived. Don't be nervous! Everything will be fine!

Loud, painful moan. Scream. Charmaine dropped the phone and grabbed her belly. Sharp convulsions, heavy bleeding. Contraction and dizziness. Blood between her legs that ran all the way to the ground.

Charmaine! Charmaine! – Hope shouted. Go! Go! I think Charmaine is just miscarrying now.

When they arrived at the woman's house, the Doc broke the door. Charmaine lay on the floor, her hands full of blood.

Call the ambulance Hope!

The doc examined her and then acknowledged that she had lost the babies. He took the bloody hands and then helped her to stand up. They followed the ambulance all the way, all the way to the hospital. They were back again. This day seemed more and more horrible.

Mel was in Jack's room. She sat next to him. Took his hand and talked to him.

Remember when you were teaching me fishing? I felt safe the whole time. I could feel your panting around my neck. The thought you were standing by my side was so reassuring. I longed for your touch. Grab my hands with yours. To embrace me with your body. And surround me around…

She was stroking her man's hand. Felt the hardening of his skin on his palms, on his fingers. A hand which belonged to a hard-working man. A lovable, kind, helpful man. Her man. That's how the minutes went. Then suddenly Doc broke into the room.

Mel! Come out, please.

What's wrong? – the woman asked.

Charmaine. She had lost the babies.

Mel's face turned pale. She felt pain. Even if they weren't her children. They were her love's babies. Her heart was fully in pain. Restless pain.

Where is she?

In that room.

She went into her room. Charmaine was lying on the bed and had pain in her womb. Her life was in danger.

Family member?

Yes!

Please persuade the lady for the surgery. Her life depends on it.

What kind of surgery?

Unfortunately, Hysterectomy.

Mel grabbed Charmaine's hand.

Look at me! Look at me! Your life depends on it! I know! I know how hard it is. You have my commiserations - said Mel gravely. But listen to me! You have no choice. If you don't agree, you will die.

Before that, we need to remove the fetal parts! - The doctor whispered.

She was terribly scared. What else do I have to go through? – asked herself.

Can I stay here with her?

It would help.

I will be here by your side for the entire time and hold your hand. I won't let it go. – Mel looked in Charmaine's eyes, and told her.

Charmaine looked back with teary eyes at the woman she hated the most. But she didn't feel hatred anymore. A pleasant warmth filled her chest. Maybe her frosty heart was starting to open to Mel. She realized Mel wasn't the bad guy in their life. She is truly in love with Jack, the man who she loved too. Otherwise, Mel wouldn't have wanted to help her.

We start! - the doctor said and tried to reassure her. Please look at your friend and relax. I'll be honest with you: It won't be pleasant, but I know you're strong.

At that moment, Charmaine felt too...Mel was her friend. Despite how she treated her, how she talked to her and talked about her behind Mel's back.

We are done with this part! - the doctor whispered. Now we have to take you to the operating room.

Mel wiped Charmaine's forehead and caressed her hair. Charmaine turned to Mel and she said one word. Only one.

Thank you!

There was no need for more. Her face told Mel everything. Charmaine felt gratitude. She was unspeakably grateful for Mel for not leaving her alone to make it through.

AFTER THE OPERATION

I'll get you some water! – said Mel.

Charmaine just stared at the wall. She felt terrible herself. Felt emptiness. Pain. And wanted to yell.

Try drinking a little! - and she put the glass on the cupboard.

They were speechless. Mel was sitting in the armchair and Charmaine was lying on the bed. That's how they were for hours.

Don't you need something? – asked Mel.

Charmaine shook her head.

I'm going to walk down the hall a bit. But I'll stay here near you.

The hospital was small. But they were able to take care of the necessary injuries. So Charmaine and Jack got a room on the same floor.

Mel opened the door. She saw that Jack was still sleeping, due to the blood loss and sedatives he got. His pains were great, so the doctors thought it better not to know about it. His face put on the usual look. Reddish. Unshaved. Handsome. It was as if he had just fallen asleep on a bed. But Mel saw the tubes, the infusion, and the additional medical instrument. She sat down in the armchair by the bed. Stroked his arms and palms. Grabbed his fingers, then kissed his hand.

What to do? What if he wakes up? Do I have to tell him? No. No. I can't. I can't be the one who tell him. She was deep in her thoughts.

The days have passed. Mel was there, on that floor every single day. Hospital workers already knew her. She moved from one room to the other and change her place in every 2 hours.

On the fourth day, she started it in Jack's room. She sat down in the armchair and told him about her previous night. She had heard roe deer. Came out from the cabin and seen something special. Mel's cabin was in the middle of an extraordinary place, so she had the opportunity to see these animals every morning during their meal. But this time had been different... because of the darkness. She had not seen them, just heard them. Heard amazing sounds. She was talking to Jack about such little things like this. She knew the man could hear her, just he wasn't able to answer. She continued, then fall asleep.

Hey! - a voice said. What a pleasant sound. Full of warmth. Full of kindness. Hope.

When she opened her eyes, Jack looked back at her. Huge blue eyes, love in his look.

Hey! If you knew, how scared I was. If you knew, how much I wanted to...

I know. I heard you. I saw you.

Saw me?

In my dreams. You held my hand the whole time. You were by my side. You talked to me. I smelled the scent of your hair. Felt the touch of your skin.

There was no need for words. Mel took Jack's face between her palms and looked deep into his eyes. Her eyes floated in tears. Kissed him. With such a fervor, such a passion. With love. They stayed that way for a long time.

How long have I been here? – asked Jack.

This is the fourth day.

Ughhf…

You must rest!

AFTER A WHILE

Uhmm… Mel! Did anyone mention this to Charmain?

Enormous sigh.

Yes. And… err, I have to tell you something. The woman's face became sad. Turned her eyes down and looked at the floor.

What? What is it? - Jack became nervous. His heartbeat was visible on the monitor.

Charmaine is here. Since that night. I think you need to talk to her. Mel wiped a tear from her face.

Tell me! – asked Jack.

I can't. I'm not able to.

Please! - The man's face changed to desperate.

Mel blew out the air. Then took a deep one.

After your operation, Hope called Charmaine. She told her you'll be fine. You survived. Do not worry. But... they heard Charmaine screaming on the phone. When they arrived, Doc found her on the floor...

She interrupted herself.

Go on!

Covered in blood. Then Doc... stated that the babies... long break... The babies had been gone.

Jack was just looking at the ceiling. He remained in this position for long minutes. She was the one who broke the silence.

I can't even tell you how sorry I am.

Jack licked his lips then bit them. He looked at the woman and nodded. Her eyes were full of tears and the drops ran down the side of his face.

Where is she?

The other end of the hall.

I'm going to see her.

Let me help you, then I leave you to alone.

Thank you.

Mel put her arm around Jack's waist and helped him to walk. With slow, sluggish steps.

WITH CHARMAINE

Charmaine! – called her Jack.

She didn't speak anything. Just looked at him silently, then cried herself.

Jack walked over to her as fast as he could and hugged the woman.

Would you do that to talk about it? – asked the man.

I can't.

Please. I don't want to leave you alone with this. They were my children. Losing them hurts me as much as it hurts you.

Charmaine opened. Told him what had happened.

Then… they removed my… uterus.

Jack turned pale. He frowned. His gaze was deep. Painful and showed incomprehensibility.

Minutes passed in silence.

I'm so sorry you had to go through it alone. I really am!

I wasn't alone. Mel.

Silence.

Was she by your side?

She held my hand for as long as they let her. And you know what… I was wrong about her. In everything…

Thank you!

She's been with me for days. Walks over to you, check you, and comes back to me. Just sitting. Doesn't force anything. But don't leave me alone. I think Mel will help me to get through it. I mean, I hope so. Because I won't be able to do it alone.

You will not be alone. I promise that. – said Jack.

I loved you. I still love you. But after that night… I understood why you've chosen her. I understand. Seriously. I don't even mad at you either her anymore. I just feel peace. It still hurts, and feel terrible myself because of what happened, but.

That was the moment. That moment when Jack felt deep pain and freedom at the same time. He felt strange about it. Thought he was selfish and acted terribly for feeling that way.

Would you ask Mel to come in? – asked Charmaine.

Sure.

Mel was sitting in a chair in front of the ward. Waited in silence.

Uhmm, Charmaine wants to see you.

Mel walked in and closed the door behind her. She saw that the woman was no longer lying in bed but sitting up on it. Perfect for beginning. She wouldn't have been able to do the same if she had been in her shoes. At least not this soon. Recalled that she had only been in bed for weeks after losing their child. Even Mark had asked her to get up. But she had had no strength.

Charmaine took Mel's hand. She had a small hand. Thin, cold fingers. Mel felt the thin hand was twisting up her big palm.

I just wanted to thank you for what you did for me… for us.

An unusual velvetiness prevailed on Jack's face.

No need to thank Charmaine. This is my job.

No! You wouldn't have had to help me. So thank you!

Mel smiled. But this smile still expressed sadness.

I know it's not appropriate for me to ask that… but how did you get over it?

It's ok…

Sigh.

It was very difficult at first. My husband said I had lost myself. I was just lying all the time. Night and day. Then a doctor told me to search a specialist. My husband was a doctor, so he had a lot of friends with medical and psychological qualification. So, Mark told me to visit his best friend, he did that too. He was a young male therapist. The first time was weird. I didn't know what to say. I was his friend before, not his patient. Then he broke the silence. Told me, he knew what I had been going through, because he had experienced the same too some years age. He lost his son, then her wife on the same day. I felt like I had been beaten on my chest. There was a man in front of me who knew how I felt. And I saw it on his face too. There was sadness in his eyes, but also peace and calmness that I had never seen before. So I visited him every day or called him on the phone. We talked a lot. Still. He became a very good friend of mine. Maybe the best after my sister.

So, what you say is to look for a specialist? – asked Charmaine.

You can do it. But I've already called him and asked to travel here. It'd be good for you to talk to him for a few days. And if you don't feel like it helps… we can look for something else. And I'll be here for you all through, if you want to talk about it.

I'm very grateful to you, Mel. I can't even tell you how much… And I want to apologize for everything. I want you to know that I regret how I treated you.

Mel stood up, hugged Charmaine and said:

Thank you! And I'm here for you.

Then left the room. Jack stayed a little longer and talked to Charmaine.