484 Stay With Me, Winona


(Jayden)

I burst through the front door, taking the stairs two at a time to the second floor. I pray I'm in time. I stop at the bottom of the attic stairs.

Then I see her.

Winona lies crumpled halfway down the attic stairs, her body twisted awkwardly. Her head jammed up against the wall, her hand rests on a spindle. Blood pools beneath her head on the stair, dark and horrifying, and for a second, I'm frozen.

My mind blanks out, every thought swept away by raw panic.

But then I snap back. She needs me. She needs me to be fully present, not panicking.

I force myself forward, the first aid kit from the car clutched in my shaking hands. Every instinct screams at me to scoop her up, to hold her, but I stop myself. If she's hurt her neck or spine... I could make it worse. My knees hit the stair below her, and I reach for her wrist with trembling fingers.

A faint pulse. Relief crashes over me so hard I almost collapse, but it's short-lived. She's alive, but for how long?

I tear open the first aid kit, my hands shaking so badly it takes me three tries to pull out a compress. Her head is still bleeding, a slow but steady seep that sends fresh waves of terror through me. I press the compress against the wound, careful not to move her. I need to stop the bleeding.

"Winona," I whisper, my voice breaking. "Winona, baby, can you hear me? Please, open your eyes. Please..."

She doesn't move. Her chest rises and falls faintly, but her body is limp, almost lifeless. My throat constricts as I clutch her hand, holding it as tightly as I dare.

"I'm here," I say, tears burning my eyes. "I'm right here. Hold on for me, okay? Hold on for the kids. Just hold on."

and I can't stop them. I don't want to stop

it matters. None of it. Lance made his own choice. Judy is out of our lives for

against her hand, my shoulders shaking. "I love you. I love you so much, and I've been a fool not to show you that every day. I let my jealousy, my hurt, my anger get in the way of what

her breathing. The sight of her bloodied head and motionless body makes my stomach churn, but I force myself to stay

steady. I need

care about is you. Us. Our family. I should've said this sooner. I should've fought harder for us instead of pushing you away." My gaze drops

let the baby be okay. "Our son. He needs you, Winona. I need you. Abby, Bobby,

fuck up

to you. I'll show you every single day how much

doesn't wake up? What if I lose her?

can't lose her. I

up the

"Winona Brennan My wife. She fell around fifteen minutes ago. I've been here five minutes. I didn't move her. She's pregnant-sixteen weeks, high risk. Her medical team

need you to move so

but I know I have

was, her movements calm and efficient. She checks Winona's pulse

stretcher. The sight of her pale, almost lifeless form strapped in, her head wrapped in gauze, nearly breaks me. "Is she going to be okay?"

neutral but kind. "We'll get her on fluids and check for anything obvious. We'll do everything we can. You traveling with her

you can guarantee you'll stay calm

"I will."

begin to assess her. My hands shake as I pull out my phone, dialing the hospital. I

is Jayden Brennan," I say,

"My wife,

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