Chapter 7: The Edge of Darkness
Huey adjusted the cuffs of his shirt for the third time, staring at his reflection in the mirror. His palms were clammy, his heart thudding in a way he wasn't used to. He was Huey Freeman—calm, logical, and composed. Or at least, that's who he used to be before Jazmine DuBois came into his life.
He glanced over at the small velvet box resting on the dresser, the soft glow of the room's light reflecting off its polished surface. Inside was his mother's ring, a modest but timeless piece with a single diamond set in a simple gold band. His granddad had given it to him a few weeks ago, his normally gruff demeanor replaced with something surprisingly tender.
"She'd want you to have it, Huey," Granddad had said, his voice thick with emotion. "Your mama loved that ring. And from what I can see, you love Jazmine the same way."
Huey had nodded then, too overwhelmed to say much, but now, as he prepared for the biggest moment of his life, the weight of his feelings threatened to choke him. Jazmine wasn't just the woman he loved—she was the reason he'd learned to love at all.
When he met her, Huey was young, angry, and, if he was being honest with himself, deeply unhappy. The world had always felt like a burden to him, a heavy, relentless weight pressing down on his shoulders. But Jazmine… Jazmine was light. She was laughter and warmth, her smile breaking through his perpetual seriousness like sunshine cutting through storm clouds.
And now he was going to ask her to be his forever.
Everything was ready: dinner at her favorite restaurant, a picnic blanket, and candles set up on their hill—the place where they had spent countless evenings talking about everything and nothing, watching the sun sink below the horizon.
"Don't screw this up," he muttered to himself, grabbing the ring box and tucking it into his pocket before heading out.
The dinner had gone perfectly. Jazmine had been radiant, her laughter filling the restaurant as she teased Huey for ordering the same thing he always did. He couldn't help but watch her, his usually stoic expression softening every time she caught him staring.
"What?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Nothing," he replied, shaking his head with a small smile. "Just you."
Her cheeks flushed, and she laughed, reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. "You're acting so weird tonight."
He shrugged, his heart racing. "I'm just... happy."
And he was. But the real test was still to come.
The hill was quiet; the world bathed in hues of orange and pink as the sun dipped low in the sky. Huey spread out the blanket, lighting the small candles he'd brought as Jazmine sat cross-legged beside him, her eyes wide with wonder.
"This is so beautiful, Huey," she said softly, looking out at the horizon. "You didn't have to do all this."
"I wanted to," he said simply, sitting down beside her. The cool evening breeze tugged at her curls, and she smiled at him, her happiness so genuine it made his chest ache.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the sun sink lower and lower. Huey's fingers brushed the ring box in his pocket, his nerves sparking to life again. This was it.
"Jazmine," he said, his voice quieter than he intended.
She turned to him, her eyes curious. "What's up?"
He reached for her hands, taking them in his as he shifted to face her fully. Her expression changed, confusion flickering across her face as she studied him. "Huey?"
"You've always been my light," he said, his voice steady despite the rapid beating of his heart. "Before you came into my life, I didn't know what happiness really felt like. I didn't think I deserved it. But you… you showed me something different."
Her eyes filled with tears, her lips parting in surprise as he continued.
You're my partner, my best friend, and the only person who's ever made me believe that there's good in the world worth fighting for. And I want to spend the rest of my life fighting for you, with you."
He pulled the ring box from his pocket, opening it to reveal the simple, elegant ring. Jazmine's hands flew to her mouth, a soft gasp escaping her.
"Jazmine DuBois," Huey said, his voice firm but full of emotion. "Will you marry me?"
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she nodded, her voice trembling as she whispered, "Yes. Yes, Huey, of course."
Relief and joy washed over him as he slipped the ring onto her finger, her hands shaking as she pulled him into a tight embrace
Huey sat in the back of the ambulance, the chaos around him a blur. The paramedics worked frantically over Jazmine's limp body, their movements efficient but desperate. His heart pounded in his chest as he watched one of them administer chest compressions, the rhythmic push of their hands against her chest a stark reminder of how close she was to slipping away.
"She's coding!" One of the paramedics barked, their voice tight with urgency.
Huey's stomach dropped, and his vision swam. He wanted to do something, anything, but he was frozen in place, one hand holding Adia while the other gripped the edge of the bench as though letting go would shatter him completely.
"Come on, Jazmine," he whispered, his voice trembling. "Please, baby. Don't leave me."
The paramedic grabbed a defibrillator, attaching the pads to her chest. "Clear!" they shouted before the machine delivered a shock that jolted Jazmine's body. Huey flinched, his knuckles white as he watched, praying for a miracle.
"Got a pulse!" the paramedic exclaimed, relief evident in their voice.
Huey exhaled shakily, his grip on the bench loosening slightly, but the sight of Jazmine's pale face, her blood-soaked arm, and the oxygen mask over her mouth kept the knot of fear firmly lodged in his chest.
When they arrived, a team of doctors and nurses rushed Jazmine through the ER doors, leaving Huey standing at the threshold, frozen. The chaos of the emergency room swirled around him, but all he could focus on was Jazmine's pale, lifeless face as they wheeled her away.
"You'll have to wait here," one of the nurses said, her tone firm but kind as she gestured toward the waiting area.
Huey nodded numbly, his legs carrying him to a chair that felt miles away. He sat down, The weight of responsibility hit him like a freight train. How did I miss this? How did I let it get this far?
He couldn't do this alone. He needed someone to help with Adia, someone to keep her safe and comforted while he focused on Jazmine.
He called Riley. His brother picked up after the second ring, his voice groggy but alert. "Yo, Huey, what's up?"
Huey took a deep breath, forcing himself to sound calm even though his insides were screaming. "Riley, I need you and Cindy to come to the hospital. It's Jazmine… she's not doing well. I—" His voice cracked, but he pushed through. "I need you to take Adia for a while."
There was a beat of silence before Riley's voice came through, sharp and serious. "We're on our way. What happened?"
Huey clenched his jaw, forcing himself to focus. "It's bad, Riley. She… she hurt herself. I don't know all the details yet, but the doctors are working on her. I just need you here, okay?"
"We'll be there soon," Riley said firmly. "Hang in there."
About 15 minutes later, Cindy and Riley had picked up Adia. Riley tried to convince Huey to let him keep him company while Cindy brings the baby home, but to no avail. Huey wanted to be alone with his thoughts. He was so worried about Jazmine, and his mind kept racing a hundred miles a minute.
A doctor approached him, a clipboard in hand and a serious expression on his face. "Mr. Freeman?"
Huey stood, his muscles tense. "How is she?"
The doctor gestured for him to sit down, his tone professional but grave. "We've stabilized her for now. She nicked an artery during the incident, which caused significant blood loss. She'll need surgery to repair it, but thankfully, she got to us in time."
Huey exhaled sharply, his relief tempered by the doctor's next words. "I also want to bring something else to your attention. During the examination, we noticed multiple scars on her arms and body—evidence of prior self-inflicted injuries. This wasn't her first time, Mr. Freeman."
The words hit Huey like a punch to the gut. He stared at the doctor, his mind reeling. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that your wife has likely been struggling with these thoughts for some time," the doctor said gently. "She's in critical condition physically, but her mental health also needs to be addressed. We're going to admit her to the psychiatric unit once she's stable post-surgery. She needs comprehensive care."
Huey's chest tightened, a mix of guilt, shock, and disbelief swirling in his mind. How had he missed it? How had he not seen the signs? He had been so caught up in work, in his own stress, that he hadn't noticed Jazmine silently crying out for help.
"I'll do whatever it takes," Huey said finally, his voice low but resolute. "Just make sure she's okay."
The doctor nodded, his expression softening. "We're doing everything we can."
Before Huey could process any more, the intercom crackled to life overhead, and a robotic voice announced, "Code Blue, Room 312. Code Blue, Room 312."
The doctor's face paled, and he stood abruptly. "That's her room."
Huey's blood turned to ice as the doctor rushed away. He stood frozen, the words echoing in his mind. Code Blue. It was happening again.
He sank back into the chair, his hands gripping the armrest as his breath caught in his throat as the world seemed to tilt beneath him.