Whose Fault? (Editing)

Chapter Twenty-Five

"It's not fair." I stated simply. There was so much more to it than that, but that's what it boiled down to.

"I know, Wr-"

"She's just a baby. She hasn't done anything wrong! She doesn't deserve this." I said, distraught.

"Look at me, Wren." He only continued when I did so, "is she breathing? Is she growing properly? Is she healthy?" I nodded with each question. He wiped the tears that had fallen from my face, "then she's okay." I was about to make another point, but Max stopped me. "Let's go home. We can talk more on the way there, yeah?"

I got up and followed him to the car, I made sure Callie was snug in her seat before going around to the front passenger seat. Max started the car and the drive home. There was silence for a few minutes before he reached for my hand to get my attention.

"Tell me what's going through that head of yours."

"Too much all at once," I started, only pausing to figure out where to begin. "This wouldn't be happening to her if my body hadn't hurt her from the start. A part of me wrapped itself around her little neck so she couldn't breathe. And now she has to go through life without hearing really anything besides random noise. Because of me!"

"You couldn't help it, Wren. There's nothing you could've done to change it. It just happened. You did everything you could possibly think of to keep her safe. It's not your fault."

"I wish I could switch auditory nerves with her. She doesn't deserve this!"

"No she doesn't. It's not fair and it's not right, but it's what's happening. So we have to deal with it, right? You're learning sign language and you'll be able to communicate with her. I promise. You can do this."

"I know. It's just - and I realize how dramatic this seems because it's just her hearing, right? It could be so much worse. It's just that I want the best for her, I don't want her to struggle through life in any way. But now I know she will; there will almost always be a communication barrier."

At that moment we pulled into the driveway and Max turned toward me, looking me in the eye. "It's okay to be upset. All moms want the best, problem- and worry-free life for their kids. It's natural to be frustrated and angry and sad. But you can't let that stop you or hold you back. Callie's strong; she's a fighter, just like her mom. The two of you side-by-side will be unstoppable one day. Nothing is going to change that."

I crumbled to the floor with tears falling from my eyes. My lip was busted and the left side of my face was pulsing in pain. My breathing became labored and vision more blurry than it already was.

When he noticed, he sat down next to me. He moved closer to me and I flinched away from him. He either ignored the action or didn't see it as he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close to lean on him, "I'm sorry Wrennie. I'm so, so sorry. I promise it won't happen again. I promise. Please forgive me. Please. I'm sorry!"

Jordan sounded so guilty and in so much pain from seeing me like this. I didn't know what to think about it. I didn't want to think about it, I just wanted him back to normal. I wanted things to go back to how they used to be. "I love you, Wrennie. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. Please, please forgive me. I love you. I'm sorry."

I was so tired and wanted this to be over, I found myself nodding at him. He said he was sorry and that it wouldn't happen again. I loved him and that was enough for me.

He kissed me at the crown of my head, "I love you, Wrennie. It's just the two of us against the world. Nothing could ever change that."

I shook the memory from my head. "I know that. I just feel scared and so extremely guilty." I told him as I got out of the car and grabbed Callie.

We didn't talk anymore about it, but Max stayed the night at the house and left early the next morning so he could go home and get ready for work. I stuck to my normal routine for the day; school work and Callie. That's all I really needed. She was my whole world, and nothing would ever change that.

~~~

Callie was growing too quick for comfort. I didn't like it. She was only 2 months old, but I just wanted time to slow down. She would smile at me a lot; I had taken to making funny faces at her to achieve this since I knew silly noises wouldn't work. She wiggled and moved her arms and legs around so much more than she used to.

Her growth was still on the right track, outside of her hearing. I had some questions that I got answers to at her most recent appointment. I still felt a whole lot of guilt on my shoulders, but knowing more about it helped me a little.

Max came over often to help me pack up the house. I hadn't found an apartment an apartment yet, but I was looking. Max helped with that too when he could.

The first thing I had Max do was pack up everything that was left in the spare bedroom. I couldn't find it in me to go in there and do it myself. While he did that, I started in my room; I packed away all the things I didn't wear regularly and things I didn't use on a daily basis. And did the same for Callie's things.

It made me feel good that we were getting things done. I was starting to worry that I'd run out of time and I wouldn't be ready on the day I was supposed to move in. But now that I was actually able to get things packed and sorted, I was feeling a bit better.

Music was playing through the house, as we worked. Eventually, Max had moved onto the living room as I still worked on my room. We had been going for a couple hours when the doorbell rang. I got up from my spot, yelled to Max "I got it," and made my way downstairs. I could hear Max singing obnoxiously loud and it made me laugh as I opened the door.

When I saw who was standing there, my heart dropped to my stomach and my breath got caught in my throat. The two of us stood there for a moment, I had tears in my eyes as memories forced themselves through my head. I couldn't make myself move or say anything, but they beat me to it anyway.

"Hey Wren."

💜❤️

Hello beautiful people!

I'm so very excited because this is the last chapter of Who's Fault? And it is a wonderful 3,296 words. Don't ask me why I've kept track this whole time with the lengths, I just find it interesting!

Who could be standing at the door in front of Wren, you ask? I guess if you really want to know, you'll stick around for the next installment of the series! But until then, in the words of Thomas Sanders:

"Take it easy guys, gals, and nonbinary pals. Peace out!"

TM