Young and Married?

Prologue: 2 Deaths to True Love

Thump

Thump

Thump

My heart races as I stare at the clock. I chuckled darkly as each agonizing moment here in the hospital could have been another moment with her. Time is the cruel reality of life. We never have enough of it with our loved ones.

I sit and watch as my father paces the floor, worry washed over his body. Mumbles escape his lips as he tries to bring himself some form of comfort. Watching him like this broke my heart and I know that there will never be enough words to comfort him. I stand up, wobbling a bit from moving too fast, and walk towards him. 

He flinches as my hand rests on his shoulder. "Dad, it's going to be okay. We just need to have hope." I tell him softly, not even believing my own words. He gives me a hesitant nod as I guide him to a chair. 

I release a sigh as I see the doctor emerge from the room. Dad nearly jumps out of his chair as the doctor approaches us. "How is she? Is she alright? Can I see her now?" Dad spews all his questions at the doctor. The doctor has a somber facial expression. My heart breaks as I assume the meaning of the look in his eyes. Dad shakes his head and runs into the room, where Mom laid on the bed with a cloth covering her frail body. 

"I'm sorry, we did everything we could. Her body was too weak to recover." The doctor speaks to me softly, knowing this was a turn for the worst. He walked away and I make my way into the room with Dad on his knees, holding Mom's hands in his. Tears roll down both our cheeks, realizing the reality of what we were dealing with. 

"My love, rest easy and in peace. This world was cruel to us and ripped you away from us." Dad's voice quivers as he speaks to her body and kisses her hand. I can't make any words come out as I watch the scene in front of me. 

I find myself sitting on the couch, letting my dad have his time with her. "Scarlett, my darling daughter. Your mother loved you the most and even sometimes, I was envious of how much she loved you," He chuckles. Dad walks over to me and wraps his arms around me. 

I begin to break down in his arms, completely letting my emotions run through my body. This was a moment I never wanted to experience. Mourning and grieving were words that I read in books and papers. It wasn't supposed to be something I, hell, anyone wanted to ever wanted to go through. 

"We were going to renew our vows at the beach we met at. Just the two of us on the beach at sunset, enjoying another moment under the sun with each other. She planned out your entire wedding and the timing of your pending children. The love of my life was a gentle soul and someone you only meet once in a lifetime. Our love story ends here, but my god, it was one of the best ones in history. I love you my darling,"  He smiles with tears forming in his eyes. 

Dad leans back on the couch, closing his eyes for the last time. My resolve is gone with the last breath Dad released. No one ever warns you about dying from a broken heart while it sounds made-up, it happens to the soulmates who can't survive without one another. 

My eyes have run out of tears and my voice has turned its back on me. As painful as it is to move forward and accept reality,  I walk out of the room, letting my parents rest in a place where they will be together and taken care of. My eyes are glued to the floor as I make my way through the halls, not exactly knowing where my next destination is. Only roaming for a few moments, I collide with a hard body. With a thump, I find the both of us on the ground with each of our belonging scattered around us. "I'm.. I'm so sorry for bumping into you," I say to the stranger, strained. I scramble to gather my belongings and help the stranger with theirs.  

"Don't sweat it. I should have been looking at where I was going," The stranger said, with a husky and raspy voice. Our eyes meet as we both touch my phone. I stare intently, trying to remember the gorgeous eyes he has been blessed with. His eyes are the colors of the ocean, but they have a storm hiding behind the ocean façade. His thick long eyelashes help hide the storm that lies beneath the surface. I gasp as I recognize who he is. "C-Carter Hart?" I say, barely above a whisper. 

He groans as we both stand up. "I was hoping no one would notice me." He chuckles. I raise my eyebrow in confusion. "How did you think that plan would work?" I chuckle as his face flushes with a pale pink color. "I don't know to be completely honest." He bites his lower lip while staring at my face. 

"However, I'm glad I did bump into you. You seem upset about something... Mind sharing what's got a beautiful girl, like yourself, crying?" He steps closer, caressing my cheek. He wipes the remaining tears off my face and gives me a smile. "My name is Scarlett, just so you know and I don't know if I should tell you." I tease. "We just met, Mr. Hart." 

He gasps in fake shock and shakes his head, removing his hand from my cheek. "Where ever are my manners, milady. Please forgive me" he said, faking a British accent. I giggle as he bows before me. I almost forget why I was upset in the first place. Almost. 

"You're forgiven. Maybe it will help me if I tell you," a silence falls between us as I gather the strength to speak properly. "My parents just passed away and I don't know what to do with my life," My voice cracks. His face softens and pulls me towards  He sits down and pats the seat next to him. I sigh and sat next to him, placing my head in my hands like my father did earlier. 

I can't even finish as I begin to sob over the loss of my mom once again.  He stays silent as he wraps his arms around me and just lets me cry into his chest. Carter whispers sweet nothings into my ear as I try to control my sobbing and tears. 

I finally stop crying after what feels like hours. I pull away from his firm grip and apologize for soaking his shirt. "I-I'm sorry about your shirt." I bite my bottom lip as he shakes his head. "Don't worry about it. I kind of asked for it when I asked for what happened to make you cry." 

Silence falls between us as I stare at the floor. "I-I should probably let you get going. I've taken enough of your time." I stand up, wobbling a bit. He smirks and grabs my wrist, turning me around to face him. He places a sweet kiss on my cheek and giving me a quick wink. He slips a piece of paper between my fingers as he walks away. 

"Until we meet again, Scarlett." he says, not turning around once. I stand there with my hand touching my cheek. My cheek is tingling from where he kissed me. He doesn't seem to match what the tabloids say. Womanizer. Playboy. Smirks to his heart's content.

You are a mystery, Carter Hart. Until we meet again. I smile but then my smiles drops as I see my dad walk out of her room. His eyes are dry and red. His face has lost all color and life. I know this is affecting him more than anyone else. My heart breaks more as I see the loss of his soul in his eyes.

He loved her to her last breath. He loves her  more than he ever thought he did. The love of his life has been torn from him in the most cruel way. A way where he didn't get to say goodbye. A way where it will haunt him forever. A way where time was so cruel to tear the love of his life away from him without say goodbye and without him telling her how much she meant to him and how much he loves her. He could have done it before, but time beat him to the punch.  

I hug him tightly and I sob while he stays silent. He may be physically here but his soul has left his body and found its way to heaven with the beautiful angel I called Mom. He begins to fall heavy and I collapse under him. I stare at his face and I see one last tear leave his eyes before his body goes limp. 

He is gone too. The loss of his love made it so hard for him to be here, alone. Time got his wish. Mom is gone and so is Dad. I am alone. 

I let another tear fall as a doctor comes to my rescue, lifting Dad up from my body. I sit up and lose it. I have no one in this world anymore. The two people that cared about me the most have left me alone on this Earth to fend for myself. 

I love you Mom and Dad. May you rest in peace and love each beyond the grave. I will be with you soon. Watch over me please. I allow myself to speak to God this time. I have never been religious but this is the time I have found the heart to look up to the Heavens and pray for angels to watch over me as I walk this Earth with no one beside me, physically. 

I tune everything out as the doctor tries to talk to me. I focus on the movement of his lips, but I don't hear the words coming out of it. I feel a warmth behind me and strong arms wrap themselves around me. Next thing I know I see all black and fade from the real world for a while. However, I remember a dark chuckle as I realize that my dad died from a broken heart.

My savior when things get tough. Thank you.