AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I took a cab to the hospital. The cab driver kept going on and on about how exhausting the city had become, but all I could think of was if I could get to the hospital in time for my appointment.
Luckily, I arrived at the hospital in time to see the doctor. I have not received any text message from Claudia, so I was guessing she couldn’t leave her work early to meet me at the hospital today.
I was ushered into the doctor’s office shortly after, she asked me series of questions and completed some examinations.
"You and the baby are in good condition, everything's just fine.” I breathed a sigh of relief. The doctor prescribed prenatal vitamins. I was saying goodbye to the nurses while walking out slowly. Suddenly someone grabs my hand from behind, making my heart race. I turned to see who it was.
"Ashley? My God, Ashley! Where have you been? I've looked for you everywhere.” I was in shock. I didn't think I would be seeing Ian Maxwell anytime soon.
"Ian… what are you doing here?" I asked. My legs were shaking, I wished I could disappear in this moment. He kept staring at my baby bump.
"I came here to see my friend. He was admitted here a few days ago." What are the odds? Ian Maxwell had a friend in Chicago who was admitted to this hospital. Who even knew that he had friends besides Ryan.
"Okay. I've got to get going now.” I said, loosening my hand from his grip and taking a step forward. He came right in front of me and stopped me from leaving.
"What are you doing? Please let me go." My voice was stronger now. I am getting emotional.
"We need to talk Ashley. Please.”
"Talk? Did you say talk? Oh, now you want to talk? When I wanted to talk to you, you ignored me as if I didn’t even exist. You avoided me intentionally and didn’t even let me get close to you. Now, all of a sudden, you wish to talk?" I tried so hard to fight back the tears that were about to run down my cheeks.
"I am sorry Ashley, I'm not proud of my actions. I've been looking for you ever since, just to make amends. Please come home with me, let me take care of you." I looked at him wide-eyed, and almost like a reflex, I slapped his face. He is shocked, holding his cheeks as the pain from the slap turns his cheek red.
"Don't you ever! Do you hear me? Don't you ever say those words to me again". I shoved him to the side and walked briskly out of the hospital not minding that everyone was staring at us.
“Ashley!” all the sudden I hear Claudia’s voice in a distance. “I’m sorry I got stuck at work a bit longer than I expected and couldn’t get here earlier. What’s going on?”
“Nothing, will you please take me home?”
Claudia looked at both of us and said, “Is this Ian Maxwell? The father of your baby?”
I said nothing and tears start to come down on my cheek.
“Ian, is that you? What are you doing here?” Claudia was also getting emotional.
“Do you have any idea how much you hurt Ashley? Do you honestly care about her?” Claudia asked.
“I’m truly sorry. I was visiting my friend who was recently administered to this hospital. I have been looking for Ashley to apologize for months, but I could not find her. When I saw her here, I could not believe it. I just wanted to apologize to her from the bottom of my heart and ask for forgiveness. I love her and care about her. I want to make things right.” Ian was looking straight at Claudia.
“Ashley, are you Ok? You really don’t want to talk to Ian?” My tears were still streaming down and I coudn’t answer.
“Ashley, I tell you what. I have a feeling that you may regret in the future it if you guys don’t sit down and have a heart-to-heart conversation today. Why don’t I take you and Ian to the apartment so that you guys can talk in private in your room. If you need me, I will be in my room. Ok?”
I still didn’t say anything and the tears continued to come down on my cheek. But seeing me not resisting, Claudia said, “Ok. Let’s go back to our apartment.”
She turned around to Ian and said, “I hope what you just said is sincere. Come with us, but promise me, you will never hurt Ashley again.”
“Thank you so much for giving me a chance to talk to Ashley. I am truly sorry and I will never hurt Ashley again” For a second, it looked like Ian was tearing up also.
Claudia drove us back to the apartment, brought each of us a cup of tea and as she closed the door to my room, she said, “I hope you guys can really talk to each other this time. If you need me, I will be in my room”.
Ian and I thanked Claudia, and for a while, neither of us could say anything.
I finally spoke, “You have no idea how much you hurt me. I love you and I wanted to be with you, but I don’t ever want to get hurt again.”
“I’m so sorry, Ashely. I know I didn’t treat you in the way you deserved to be treated. I pushed you away because I was scared that I was falling in love with you. I know that I ended up hurting you. I love you so much, Ashley. Please give me another chance. I’m willing to do anything to love you in the way you deserved to be loved.”
“How do I know that you won’t hurt me again?”
