Chapter 3 Heart break

The doctor's eyes were filled with sorrow, that Hazel couldn't bare to see. He sighed softly. "Mrs. Hazel Mitchell, I am sorry, but your baby didn't survive the accident. The impact was too severe and there was nothing we could do about it." He said with a trembling voice.

Hazel felt like her world had stopped spinning like time was frozen for a moment. The doctor's words pierced through her heart like a knife, cutting through her soul. She shook her head violently, refusing to believe what she was hearing.

She couldn't believe she would lose her husband and baby the same day; just some hours ago, they were grateful for what they had. And now she is the only person left, with the weight of pain and agony bearing in her heart.

"No, No," Hazel cried out in sorrow, her voice breaking down in anguish. "My baby, it can't be true. My baby can't be gone."

The nurse felt pity for Hazel, she squeezed her head with her eyes glistening in tears.

Hazel cried out bitterly, the love of her life gone, the father of her baby, and her baby gone the same day. She felt like she was in a room where there was no air, no hope. It was too much for her to bear. She felt like her heart had been ripped off, leaving nothing but a bleeding wound.

She clung to the bed sheets; the reality of the loss was too overwhelming and too horrific to comprehend.

"No, this is not real. He promised me he would stay with me. He promised me a better family. He promised never to leave me. He promised me and the baby that he would provide everything we wanted; he promised me he was going to give us a better home. No, Liam, come back, please come back. I can't bear this anymore." She cried.

The doctor and nurse felt pity and empathy for Hazel, she just lost her husband and unborn child. They could feel pain within even when they are not related to the patient.

"Mrs. Hazel, I am sorry for your loss. I know there is nothing I can say to make this easier, but I want you to know that we are here for you. And we will do everything we can to help you through this." He said softly, with a gentle and compassionate voice.

Hazel was drowned in grief, with her unable to focus on anything but the crushing weight of her loss. "Why did this happen? Why did they have to leave me? Who will I look at? Who will I call now? Who will come to my rescue?" She cried. "I don't know if I would live alone in this world; they are my strength, my hope and my everything."

The doctor and nurse tried to console her, the doctor offered a word of strength to her. After a few minutes, he signalled the nurse to leave her; they gave her a space she needed for her grief; she curled up on her bed, hugging her knees to her chest. The tears in her eyes continue to flow, as she wept for the life she has lost.

*******

A few days later, at the hospital, Alex was lying on the bed staring blankly at the ceiling; his legs were still heavy and numb as if they belonged to someone else.

The policemen came to the hospital to visit him; they were still investigating the case. They had informed the family that his brake was tampered with but couldn't tell how. Who? And why it happened.

Alex was asked a few questions, to which he responded that his heart was heavy. When the police officer informed him of the death of Liam Mitchell and his unborn child. Alex felt bad, he blamed himself for what happened to them. He cried bitterly and wished he had never come out that night.

A few minutes after the officers left the room, the doctor sauntered into the room, holding a clipboard in one hand and a solemn look in the other. Isla And Evans were with their son in his room. Their faces tense with anticipation.

He greeted the parents of Alex Edwards, before switching gaze to Alex.

"Good morning, Alex. How are you feeling?" He said with a calm but serious voice.

Alex swallowed hard, his mind was filled with several thoughts. "Doctor, I can't tell you I am fine. I can't feel my legs, is that normal? Will the feeling come back?" He said with his voice shaky.

The doctor took a deep breath; he glanced briefly at his parents before focusing his attention on Alex. "Alex, there is something you need to know. We have run several tests on you since you arrived here. Including the MRIs and nerve conduction studies. The results have given us a clear picture of what's going on."

The doctor paused momentarily, looking at Alex, whose heart was thumping fast in his chest. As he listened to the doctor's words, he felt a cold breeze washing over his skin.

"The accident caused significant damage to your spinal cord. Especially in the lumber region of your spine. These areas control the movement and sensation in your lower body. Unfortunately, the injury is severe."

Alex's eyes widened; he felt like his breath was cut short in his throat. "What does that mean?" He said with his voice barely above a whisper.

The doctor inhaled and exhaled deeply, he tossed his gaze to stare around the faces before him. "It means that the nerves responsible for transmitting signals between your brain and your legs have been badly damaged. We have done everything we can, but the injury is irreversible. Alex, I am sorry, but you won't be able to walk again."

Alex couldn't shake the uneasy feeling boiling within him, he couldn't believe what he just heard. His mother, Isla Edwards, stepped forward and held his hand with tears streaming down her eyes. While his father felt bad knowing his son wouldn't be able to do the things he loved doing any more.

"No, no, this can't be happening to me. I am not going to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair. That can never happen." He yelled in pain.

"We are here for you; we will get through this together." His mother said, with a breaking voice.

His father stood up from his seat, placing his hand on his son's shoulder. "I know this is hard for you, but I promise we are going to do everything we can to help you. We will get you the best care and best doctor."

Alex didn't care about his father's statement; his mind was filled with fear of losing everything. He couldn't believe he would be sitting in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

"Doctor, is there any chance for me, anything?" He asked, with a trembling voice.

The doctor sighed softly, "Alex, there is always hope. But I want you to prepare for the road ahead. It won't be easy, but with the right support, I believe you can live a fulfilled life." He said, giving him a hint of hope.

The doctor took a bow and left the room. Alex closed his eyes as he tried to absorb the doctor's words. It was too heavy for him to bear; he felt the weight of the situation closing in on him like he had lost everything. His mind drifted to how he would be in a wheelchair; he felt helpless and hopeless. He thinks about the life he had lost, even when his parents tried hard to console him.

How will Alex live his life? Do you think there is hope that he will walk again?