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I s to hear statistics about shit like this But when you’ve got so through at the oddamn welcome bit of reassurance

“Is this your… wife?” she asked

“No,” I replied “We aren’t married"

“Oh, I see” Her tone sank a bit, carrying a twinge of sadness “Well, the i is you are here for her now"

“Madaan “You’re the first person who’s said that to me Thanks”

A look of confusion came to the old woets better with ti on, the e, they will pass And when they do, she’ll be back to her old self You’ll see”

Wordless, I nodded and gave her a courteous grin As I did, I glanced around looking at the wide array of arrangements

“Forgive ether “Now, here I’ve prattled on Let’s get you so catch your eye?”

“Yes,” I answered “I like it all”

She chuckled Her body wobbled a bit as she laughed

“Well, I’,” she replied “Now, followspecial for you”

“No, no,” I said, as I gestured around the entirety of the shop “I’ll take them all”

“O-okay…” she sta here will cost thousands of dollars and fill her entire room Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“Yes, alle rose from a nearby vase

“What do you mean?”

I smiled as I took my billfold out of my suit pocket “I’ll explain”

GREY

As soon as they let me, I made my way back to Maddie’s room It was the last place I wanted to be It’s not that I didn’t want to see her I did More than anything It’s just this goddamn hospital was an endless source of misery for both us All I wanted to do was take her away, as far as we could fucking get

But, that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon

I entered the roo over her, I reached down and stroked Maddie’s hair I sood minute or so I still had no idea what I would say to her when she awoke Inh

I sure hoped she was right

After a few more minutes, a soft moan ean toher and slid my hands in my pockets Her head rolled back and forth on the pillow once or twice before her eyes flickered open

She blinked for a moment or two before our eyes met

“Grey… Oh, Grey,” she ly with sadness “I’m s-so s-sorry”

Tears poured froht away Her despair sucker-punched uard I sed hard and leaned doards her, sing her in an embrace

“Ohhh…” she cried as her upper body convulsed “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry”

“Shhh Maddie,” I said, kissing the crown of her head The words carief “You have nothing to apologize for It happens"

Maddie was inconsolable She gasped great gulps of air between fits of sobbing I did the best I could to co her close But this was so I could do Instead, I did my best to comfort her as the only other person whose heart hurt almost as much

For some time, the sound of her pain filled the room I held her close as the moisture from her tears soaked ainstaway, once and for all As soon as I detected the tiniest hint the intensity of her grief subsided, I brushed the hair away from her eyes and spoke

“Hey, hey…” I began “Listen the i sure you get better We will get through this”

Soon after I’d spoken those words to her, I released Maddie from my embrace and she sunk back into the hospital bed once more I reached for handful of tissue from a table near her bed and passed them to her

“Thank you, Grey,” she said, as she took them from me

I nodded as I brushed her hair from her eyes “Of course Don’t mention it”

A few sniffles and several h puffy lids and eyes laced with pink streaks from her tears As she did, she wadded up a handful of tissues and dropped her hands to her lap

“The doctor said it was for the best,” she whispered

I looked down at her as she fought for words, rubbing her on the arm as she continued