As soon as Gabriella saw Max, a smile immediately greeted. Although her face was still pale, the woman stretched out her arms excitedly.
“How busy are you? I’ve been waiting for a long time,” Gabriella as she was impatient for her husband to embrace.
While maintaining the slight curve of his lips, Max hugged his wife and rubbed her back very gently. “Forgive me. I have to finish the hospital administration and give information to the police.”
“Has there been any progress?” the woman asked as their eyes met.
“Not yet,” Max said, shaking his head. He felt very guilty because he had to lie to his wife.
A second later, the man took a quick breath. The direction of the conversation must be diverted immediately. “How is your condition? Has it gotten better?” he asked while tucking a strand of hair that dangled, behind Gabriella’s ear.
Without thinking, the woman nodded. “Yes. Snowy and Smiley takes good care of me. The nurses here are also very kind. They even offered to help me put medicine on the back. But I’m too shy. Would you do it for me?”
“Of course,” Max answered briskly. Without waiting for orders, the man took the ointment that was placed on the tray. “Is this the medicine?”
“Yes,” Gabriella said, straightening herself and grimacing. After being helped by her husband, she managed to sit up straight.
As soon as the wife took off her clothes, Max spontaneously sighed. His eyes immediately watered at the sight of the bruises that spread out in various directions on Gabriella’s body. Biting his lip, the man held back a sob.
Realizing that the husband was unmoved, the woman turned her head. “What’s the matter?” she asked with furrowed brows.
In a flash, the man shook his head. “I only read the description of the use of this medicine,” he lied, not wanting to show sadness.
Bearing the pain in his heart, Max began to treat each bruise very carefully. Every now and then, Gabriella’s hands gripped Snowy tighter. Knowing the suffering, the pain pierced Max’s heart even more.
“Does it hurt?” the man asked in a whisper.
“No,” the woman answered quickly. “Since you’re the one who do it, it doesn’t hurt at all.”
Behind Gabriella’s back, Max took a deep breath silently. He hoped the tightness would lessen. However, the sadness that filled the chest was overflowing. He really could not bear to witness the suffering of his wife.
“Gaby, is there anything you want right now? I can make it happen for you,” Max said in a slightly trembling voice.
“I just want us to always be together, Max. Why suddenly ask like that?”
With a bitter smile, the man shook his head. “I just want to make you happy.”
“Even now, I feel happy. You are by my side and talk to me. There’s nothing else you need to do, Max,” Gabriella replied, staring at the TV she wasn’t really watching. After a few slow blinks, the woman finally asked. “Do you feel guilty?”
Sensing that the woman noticed his rigidity, Max bowed his head for a moment. The word “guilty” had reminded him of the womb he failed to protect.
“Yes,” the man sighed, unable to hide his sadness anymore. The tears finally rolled down, and were quickly wiped away.
Hearing the unstable voice, Gabriella’s brows furrowed. With a slow motion, she turned around to face her husband.
“Don’t cry, Max. I’m sad if you’re sad,” the woman whispered while rubbing the man’s cheek.
“Seeing you suffer like this, my chest tightens. I’ve been trying to hold it in, but the tears keep coming out,” Max admitted while still avoiding the woman’s gaze.
A second later, Gabriella lifted her husband’s chin and looked him in the eye. In a very soft voice, she said, “There’s nothing to be sorry for, Max. I’m sure you would do the same if I were in your position. So don’t feel pressured. We’re just two people who love each other too much.”
Instead of replying, Max shed even more tears. His fist had turned cold. It was difficult for him to hide the truth in front of Gabriella. He was used to opening himself completely to the woman.
“I’m sorry, Gaby,” the man said, stroking the cheek of the love. He realized that another reason that made his regret multiply, still had to be kept secret.
“Do you know that if you get hurt, I’ll hurt even more? So, I’m glad that I have to be treated here, not you. Smile, Max. You have saved me from much worse pain.”
Unable to speak anymore, Max hugged Gabriella again. Without hesitation or shame, he sheds an indescribable sense of loss. His head was too dizzy to withstand the tremendous pressure.
Witnessing the husband’s unusual behavior, the woman’s brows furrowed. Patting the man’s back, she took a deep breath.
“What has Max endured to cry like this? Why won’t he share the burden with me?” she thought, both surprised and guilty.
After a while, Gabriella suddenly asked, “Have you eaten? I asked Waheed to bring your favorite steak here. So, we can eat together.”
Wiping his face, the man nodded quickly. “Right, we have to eat,” he sighed, trying to hold back a sob. For a while, Max was busy setting the table for his wife.
“Your food’s cold, Gaby,” he said, trying to change the mood.
“It doesn’t matter. What’s important is that we can still eat together,” Gabriella said while curling her sweet lips. A second later, the woman’s hand reached out to wipe the traces of sadness on the man’s face. “Now eat. Don’t carry any burdens tonight.”
Max spontaneously nodded. “Yes. Let’s forget about all the troubles for a moment.”
***
“Can’t you sleep?” the man asked after observing his wife several times adjusting Snowy’s position.
Realizing that her husband was watching, Gabriella opened her eyes. With furrowed brows, she nodded. “I shouldn’t have slept too much this afternoon,” she said, looking for an excuse.
Detecting his wife’s lying face, Max smiled wryly. “Is it because your back hurts?”
His guess succeeded in making Gabriella’s lips pursed. A second later, the man climbed on the patient’s bed. Cautiously, he helped his wife shift position so that she was prone on him.
“Is it better?” Max whispered, stroking the head of the woman leaning on his broad shoulder.
“Yes,” Gabriella said with a small smile.
Not wanting to put pressure on his wife’s wound, Max rested his hand beside his head. Realizing the man’s understanding, the curve of the woman’s lips spontaneously returned to flatness.
“Right now is the most boring night since we’ve been here,” Gabriella said before letting out a quick breath. “Usually, we are busy preparing for the arrival of the Little Prince. But, at this rate, I guess we should postpone his arrival for a month.”
In just an instant, Max’s face turned stiff. His once calm heart had returned to turmoil.
“Who do you think our child will look like?” the woman asked as she was not aware of the additional burden on her husband’s heart.
After swallowing hard, Max forced his tongue to utter a word. “I think he will look like you. Strong and tough.”
A small laugh quivered from Gabriella’s mouth. “Then he should look like you, Max. You are much stronger than me.”
“But, I think you’re a lot tougher, Gaby,” the man said in a trembling voice. His hot throat began to pinch the vocal cords.
“How about he must be as strong as you and as tough as I am? So, he will grow into a man as handsome and as good as you. He must be able to take good care of his little sister.”
Listening to that kind of hope, the wound in Max’s heart grew wider. While cornering his eyeballs up and blinking rapidly, the man held back the tears to stay in place.
“Right. He will not give up facing the rigors of life. He’s going to be a really great guy,” Max said, forcing a smile.
Hearing positive words from her husband, Gabriella’s heart immediately felt spacious. With a chuckle, she pulled herself closer to Max. “I really can’t wait to welcome him.”
Closing his eyes, the man wept silently.