Chapter 11
ROMANO
Finished
The haze slowly vaporizes from my eyes and I stare blankly at the crimson liquid soaking the bedsheets.
Fuck!
The deafening curse flies from my mouth as I abruptly jerk away from Jasmine, the chilling sight of the blood draining from her sends a jolt of panic to my heart.
Rapidly buckling my pants, I grab the phone from the nightstand, calling the hospital.
“I need an ambulance right now! My place! Right away!” My voice possesses a tremor, which is nothing compared to the brutal churn in my stomach; I feel disgusted with myself when my eyes land on Jasmine, the way her chest rises and falls weakly as though her breathing will cease from any moment.
I exhale raggedly, guilt piercing into my heart like the stab of a knife.
I should have thought about the baby. My child’s life is on the line, I should have thought of its safety.
Why the fuck is the ambulance taking so long?
I toss my phone away and grasp Jasmine’s still–cold hands, enclosing it with mine in an attempt to warm her.
I want to do something, anything, yet my mind is blank with panic, and all I can do is pat her pale cheeks, which are still damp from tears; her hair is scattered all over her face, and the colour has rapidly disappeared from her lips.
“Look, don’t sleep, The ambulance is coming soon. Wake up. Wake up!. Don’t sleep!”
Jasmine is as white as a ghost, as if all the life within her has been extinguished, and the blood wouldn’t stop flowing.
My palms instinctively cradle her abdomen; I can feel the baby moving around as though it is struggling to live.
Tears well up in my eyes for the first time since my mother disappeared and left me all alone.
My cars flares at the sound of the siren of the ambulance and I quickly pick up Jasmine and rush out of the door.
The medical staff receive her from my arms and I’m almost reluctant to let go, feeling as though she will completely leave me if I let go of her entirely.
I enter the ambulance with her, velling at her to stay with me and barely registering my messy
Chapter 11
“Jasmine, you cannot die! Do you hear me? You don’t have permission to leave me!”
I’m such a worthless, despicable beast!
Finished
I pace outside the emergency room, my frustration building with each step; the smell of antiseptic and cleaning lotion suffocates my nostrils further until I cannot breathe, and the brutal claw of fear digs into my heart.
I refuse to tear my gaze away from the door. Niko pats my shoulder gently, his expression. mirroring my grief.
“Boss, your wife will be fine…”
My throat feels too constricted to respond so I merely nod my head.
Guilt is like a bitter pill brewing within me, a thick cloak enveloping my soul.
I regret it all, the cruel ways I have always treated Jasmine, I regret all of it.
And now, she’s going to die. I stare at my hand covered in her blood… My baby’s blood and I feel like the most disgusting prick in the universe.
With these hands, I have drained the life from my wife and child simply because I couldn’t control myself.
A ragged breath escapes from my nose as I bury my face into my palms.
The sound of a loud cry cuts through the air, jolting me. My head snaps in attention towards the emergency room.
The baby is alive?
Hope roars in my veins, and I can only pray that Jasmine, too, will be safe.
A nurse comes out with the baby covered in a towel, she approaches me steadily.
“Congratulations, Mr. De Luca. It’s a boy. Your wife is still undergoing surgery. She had a case of serious bleeding, and we’re sewing her wounds right now.”
The news hits me like a ton of bricks, but my gaze is drawn to the tiny miracle I’ve helped create.
Something soft flutters in my heavy heart and my breath lodges in my throat.
This is my child…?
I look at the little one and feel the powerful rush of emotion knocking the wind out of me.
It looks so tiny, yet his cries are so strong, echoing the whole hospital.
Perhaps, he is worried about his mother? I stand still. afraid to touch him.
Chapter 11
Finished
The nurse looks up at me and smiles,” It’s okay, you can carry him later, I still need to take the child to the ward,”
My gaze lingers on the emergency room, worry flaring through me.
Jasmine cannot die. How can she bear to leave our baby alone in this world?
I won’t allow her to leave me, Yet, within me, I know that it’s not something I can control.
The beep of the monitor coming from the operating room feels like a death sentence, every second that ticks past is filled with the thought that I may lose her.
Never again will I see her eyes staring at me. At this moment, I make a promise to myself.
If she survives… I’m going to let her
Do you hear me, Jasmine?
I won’t torture you anymore.
- go.
It feels like another lifetime before the doctor comes out of the emergency room, looking exhausted. My heart stretches with doom but he flashes me a tired smile.
“Don’t worry, Mr. De Luca. She is all right.”
I heaved a long sigh of relief, my chest expanding as I inhale and exhale severally “Thank you.”
I watch as the nurses push Jasmine out of the room. She is covered in a blanket, and her hair is spread out behind her.
She is as pale as a porcelain doll, and I feel a throb in my heart, instinctive wanting to follow the nurses to the ward when the doctor suddenly adds.
“Mr. De Luca, I know you’re worried about your wife, but you should let her rest. She’s still under anaesthesia, and she shouldn’t be agitated.”
I nod slowly, swallowing the thick lump in my throat, and the doctor taps my shoulders. “But you can see your son. Congratulations once again,”
I see Jasmine off as the medical staff left with her, knowing that she is safe doesn’t ease the guilt in my heart.
If I had been one step too late, Jasmine and the child could’ve died.
I enter the observation room, the little one is lying in the incubator, asleep. He is as small as at ball, and his fists are clenched. I stare at his beautiful black curls and innocent face in amazement.
“The child looks like you, Mr. De Luca The nurse smiles.
Chapter 11
Finished
The nurse opens up the incubator to change the baby’s diapers, and I slowly extend my index finger.
The moment I touch the baby’s hand, he grabs onto me, and yet again, I feel a warm sting in my
eyes.
I nearly killed my own son.
My very own flesh and blood.
His hand is so small, but there is power behind it that fills my soul with delight. I make the decision, I’m going to keep my child and free Jasmine from my shackles.
I’m going to allow my caged bird to fly again. Even though I have clipped her wings, I know of the strength she possesses, she will regain them again and soar to the sky.
As I leave the observation room, I bark out the order to everyone present.
“Jasmine’s child tragically passed away today. The baby didn’t survive. Do you understand?”
