almost done folks! i must say that i'm both surprised and thankful for the wonderful reviews i've gotten! they're all very appreciated!
for me, the kind comments from the readers mean more than the joy of writing. and as an aspiring editor/writer, that's an extreme joy lmao!
love to all--nik
The clock on the wall seemed louder then anything else around him. The room may have been silent, but outside the bustle of inmates and nurses reached his ears.
Each tick of the hand brought him closer to seeing Sara.
Only a few moments more….
Michael forced his head to the left at the sound of the door opening.
Sara avoided eye contact upon entering. His heart dropped at the action.
"Sara….hey…"
After what seemed like minutes her eyes lifted to his.
And he was greeted with a small smile.
"Hello Michael."
Her voice was soft….very soft. Too quiet. There was something wrong. His brow furrowed as she began applying ointment to his stitched forehead. She was again in her familiar façade of Dr. Tancredi.
A façade she took to block him out.
"Sara?"
Silence responded.
"Sara….look at me."
His tone became quietly firm.
And she reacted.
Her gaze lowered into his while she placed the gauze on his wound.
"Michael…you shouldn't have done this. Coming back….look where it's gotten you."
Relief washed over him at her words. She wasn't trying to ignore what had happened between them in Mexico. She was worried. And, from the intense look in her eye, angry.
"I had to turn myself back in, Sara. I had to…for you. For us."
He knew what she was going to throw at him before the words left her mouth.
"Five years, Michael. You have five years of this."
She lightly touched the various cuts and bruises on his body, finally resting on his split head.
"If they continue beating you like this, you won't last five years. You should've stayed in Mexico, Michael. You're going to die here…and I can't…."
Her fingers left him and she turned away.
"Can't what…Sara…"
"I can't deal with that, Michael. I've had too many unexpected occurrences since I met you…"
Michael picked up the hint in her voice. She was keeping something from him.
"Sara…if you need to tell me something…."
His eyes followed her hand to her stomach. And he suddenly found it difficult to breathe.
Sara was pregnant.
There were no words of encouragement now. No flirtatious pun or kind gestures to make her smile. No charm to use to cover up his thoughts.
There was only truth.
And the truth was that he was going to be a father.
Thousands of responses flew into his head: shock, joy, fear… but he could voice none of them. Her name was all he could bring himself to say.
"What am I supposed to do Michael? You….have five years…"
He had come back to ensure a future for them. To serve his time and be able to continue on with a normal life…with her.
Now his child would have a convict for a father.
Forcing himself into a sitting position, Michael reached out to grab Sara's hand before she could place any distance between them. His arm pulled her close, and his eyes bore into hers with a pleading stare.
"Wait, Sara. Wait for me."