Truth hanging in the air

Nicole stood frozen as Andrew vanished into thin air, leaving her alone with his father. The air between them was thick with unspoken words. She swallowed hard, unsure if she even wanted to hear what he had to say.

"You care about him, don't you?" His father asked softly.

Nicole crossed her arms. "I do; I really do."

He exhaled. "Then you deserve to know- Andrew's anger isn't necessarily about me leaving. It's about what he thinks he did."

Nicole frowned. "Thinks he did?"

His father hesitated before continuing. "Andrew blames himself for something that happened when he was a child. But the truth… it's not that simple."

Nicole's heartbeat pounded. "What do you mean? What happened?"

His father sighed. "I can't be the one to tell you everything. But I will say this- he carries a weight that isn't his to bear. And it's tearing him apart."

Before Nicole could press any further, he shook his head. "He needs to be ready to tell you himself. Until then, just… don't give up on him."

The words left Nicole shaken. What could Andrew be blaming himself for? And why couldn't his father just say it. The uncertainty gnawed at her as she turned and walked away.

By the time Nicole reached the hospital, her mind was a storm of emotions. The cryptic words of Andrew's father mixed with the cold distance Andrew had been keeping from her. As she stepped into her grandmother's room, she forced herself to push those thoughts aside.

Her grandmother lay weakly on the hospital bed, her breathing shallow. Nicole swallowed back tears as she sat beside her, gripping her frail hand.

"I'm here, grandma."

Her grandmother's lips curled into a faintest smile as she noticed that something is stressing Nicole. "Nicole my dear… don't carry burdens that aren't yours."

Nicole blinked, startled by how his grandmother seems to figure out everything. Before she could ask more, her grandmother coughed, her body trembling.

Panic surged through Nicole. She wanted to be strong but all the emotions from earlier threatened to spill over.

Desperate for comfort, she pulled out her phone and dialed Andrew's number.

He picked up after several rings. "Nicole?"

"Can you come to the hospital?"  Her voice cracked. "Please? I… I don't want to be alone."

There was silence on the other end. Then, his voice came hesitant. "I will be there soon."

As Nicole stepped out of the room, she found her parents standing in the hallway. The doctor approached; his expression grim.

"I'm sorry to inform you all that… her condition has worsened. We recommend that you spend as much time with her as possible."

A gasp escaped Nicole's mother's lips as she covered her face, breaking into sobs. Nicole's father held onto her, the weight of the news sinking in.

Nicole stood still, feeling like the floor beneath her had collapsed. The conversation with Andrew's father, her own turmoil, and now this- it was too much.

He felt lightheaded, like she might faint, but then a familiar voice called out.

"Nicole."

She turned to see Violet rushing towards her. Without hesitation, Violet pulled Nicole into a tight hug.

"I came as soon as I heard." Violet whispered. "Are you okay?"

Nicole shook her head, finally allowing herself to break. "I don't know what to do anymore."

They sat on a bench outside the hospital, the night air was cool against Nicole's skin. Violet let Nicole cry before gently asking, "What's really going on?"

Nicole wiped her face. "Andrew's father told me something… something about Andrew blaming himself for something in the past, which isn't his fault. But he wouldn't say what."

Violet's brows furrowed. "That doesn't make sense. Why would Andrew blame himself for something if it wasn't his fault?"

"That's what I need to find out." Nicole exhaled shakily. "But every time I try to get close, he pushes me away. And now, with grandma…" Her voice broke again.

Violet squeezed her hand. "I know it feels like everything is falling apart. But you don't have to face it alone. "I'm here."

Nicole nodded, but deep down, she still felt incredibly alone.

Nicole barely had time to process everything before a nurse rushed towards her family. "Come quickly."

Heart pounding, Nicole ran back to the hospital room. Her grandmother's breaths were shallow, her eyes fluttering weakly.

"Grandma!" Nicole cried, clutching her hand.

Her grandmother gave her one last, soft smile. Then, with a final breath, her hand went limp.

"No…no! grandma, please!" Nicole sobbed, shaking her hand, but the monitors confirmed what she already knew.

She was gone.

The grief hit like a crashing wave, pulling Nicole under. Everything inside her shattered.

Nicole's mother who has been her mother's primary caregiver, was the first to react. When doctors confirmed that her mother has passed, she was struck with an overwhelming sense of shock. She took a step back, her breath catching in her throat. Her legs felt like they were giving way beneath her, and she leaned back against the wall for support, staring blankly at the doctors, unable to process the reality of what's just happened.

After a few moments of silence, she finally let out a sob, a deep, gut-wrenching cry that seemed to shake the walls of the hospital. Her hands trembled as she reached for her mother's hand as if hoping to hold on to something, anything to prevent herself from falling apart. She then leaned on Nicole's father who tried to console her, though he was equally broken.

Meanwhile, Nicole's older sister, got angry at the situation, angry at the hospital as well as the entire universe for taking their grandmother away.

"This is so unfair! Why." She screamed, pushing passed her mother and father to step into the hallway, as though she needs to physically escape the pain.

Nicole stood there paralyzed. The tears didn't come out immediately, unsure how to feel. She thought she had prepared herself for this moment, but reality hit harder than expected. She felt like she didn't do enough for her grandmother and yet she's been so consumed by her personal turmoil with Andrew, that she didn't spend enough time with her.

Violet quickly wrapped her arms around Nicole, guiding her to sit down.

After a few moments Andrew arrived at the hospital just in time to find Nicole sitting outside, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.

He stepped forward slowly, the sound of his shoes echoing in the empty corridor. He paused just before he got near Nicole. For a long moment, he stood there, unsure of what to say. He had never been good at these moments- never knew how to comfort someone in pain without making things worse. But this was Nicole, and despite everything they were going through, she meant more to him than anything.

"Nicole?" He finally spoke; his voice softer than usual.

She turned to face him, blinking as if surprised to see him. Her lips parted, but no words came.

"How are you holding up?" Andrew asked cautiously, walking towards her but still keeping a few steps back, unsure of the space between them.

Nicole shook her head, her lips trembling. "I don't know. I just… I didn't think she would go so soon. One moment she was okay and the next- "Her voice faltered, breaking as she looked down at her hands, wringing them together in her lap.

Andrew's gaze softened and he sat beside her, keeping a respectful distance. "I'm sorry Nicole."

Nicole searched his face, hoping for warmth, for comfort- but all she found was that same guarded expression. Something inside her snapped. "Andrew, why are you like this?"

He tensed, "Nicole…."

"No, I need to know!" She interrupted, voice shaking. "Because I can't keep doing this. One moment, you're there, the next, you are gone. I just lost my grandmother and I can't lose you too. But if you can't let me in…."

Andrew clenched his jaw. "It's not that simple."

"Then make it simple!"  Nicole's voice cracked. "Tell me what's going on!"

For a moment, Andrew looked like he might. But then he stood up, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"I think it's best you focus on what you are going through at the moment." He muttered before walking away.

Nicole watched him go, her heart breaking into pieces. This time, she wasn't sure if he'd ever come back.