Chapter 12

Two days after:

Ara

The sound of the cardiac monitor machine woke me up and I see my husband still sleeping, lying fragile on the hospital bed. I am holding his hand and I start crying again as I see him so helpless, I learned everything about his condition from his doctor he had been diagnosed an Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and there’s no cure for this disease. Although there exists some treatments to improve quality of and extend life but my Adam refused to the treatment.

I remember when we picked up the twins from school and he suddenly felt pain and weak on his knees and he let me drove the car on our way home, he only told me that he was just having a muscle cramps and that he only need to rest, and I did not think that those were already the symptoms. I didn’t even notice that he was getting weaker everyday. I sigh and wipe the tear that fell on my eye.

“Ara my love.” I heard his soft voice. “I am sorry my love, I don’t want to be a burden to you. I don’t want you to worry about me.” He said speaking frail.

“Shssh, it’s okay love, I am here now.” I kiss his hand and tears falling down my eyes again.

“I love you Ara. I love you so much and our kids. I hope you will forgive me for being weak and not be able to defend you.” He said breathlessly. “You don’t know how happy I am, that you are here. I thought I will not see you again. Forgive me; forgive me for not telling you this.” He said to me crying and holding my hand tightly.

I tighten my grip in his hands as if sending him a message not to give up, tears are overflowing my face. I don’t want to show it to him but I can’t help myself. I can’t look on his face; I don’t want him to suffer from pain like this. I don’t want him in this kind of situation. “Adam please be strong, don’t leave us. I love you.”

Olivia is standing right behind me and I can hear her crying in silence. Mirna is there too and sobbing.

“I......love.....you Ara.” With one last breathe I feel he loosen his hand in mine and the sound of the cardiac monitor made me deaf.

It’s been a week after my husband’s funeral and things are still hard for me. I could not accept that he left us all of a sudden.

Things happened so quick, one day we are living a simple life a happy family and one day things are so different. Everything changed when they abducted me and all I blame to this is that monster Nicholas.

After the funeral, I went to our house and packed the things of my twins. There is no way I am going to leave them here whether that monster will not allow it. My babies are coming with me and Olivia agreed to it. I bid my goodbyes to our neighbors in my community and they are all crying and hugging me and the twins.

“I will miss you Ara, and the twins.” Mirna said sobbing and hugging me tightly.

“I will miss you too, I will never forget you Mirna, and everyone.” Looking to all the people around us. They are all crying and waving their hands as the car starts the engine.

This is the gloomiest day of my life.