Chapter 7 - Healing Wounds
The morning sun filtered brightly through the hospital room blinds.
It bathed Elena and Leo in a warm, comforting, golden glow.
Elena was sitting up in bed, looking infinitely better than she had the night before.
She was gently rocking Leo, who was happily cooing in her arms.
I sat in the uncomfortable plastic chair beside the bed, holding her free hand.
"I still can't believe she actually did it," Elena whispered softly.
She looked down at her cup of hospital water with a lingering sense of paranoia.
"She hated me, I knew that."
"But I never thought she would try to kill me."
I squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"She didn't want to kill you," I explained, though it hardly made it better.
"The detective called me this morning."
"She wanted you to pass out and drop Leo."
"She wanted to create a tragic accident to prove you were an unfit mother."
Elena shuddered violently, pulling our son closer to her chest.
"She is a psychopath," Elena said, her voice shaking with raw emotion.
"She really is," I agreed.
Before we could say anything else, a soft knock echoed from the open doorway.
I turned around to see Uncle Arthur standing in the hallway.
He was holding a cheap bouquet of flowers from the hospital gift shop.
He looked incredibly guilty and extremely nervous.
"Can I come in?" Arthur asked, his voice meek and hesitant.
I stood up immediately, blocking his path into the room.
"What do you want, Arthur?" I asked coldly.
"I came to apologize," he stammered, looking down at his shoes.
"I saw the news this morning... about Margaret's arrest."
"I had no idea she would do something so evil."
"I am so sorry I didn't defend you at the house."
I stared at him, feeling absolutely zero sympathy for the man.
"You watched her abuse my wife for months," I told him bluntly.
"You stood by while she treated Elena like a worthless servant."
"You only care now because Margaret is behind bars and you need to save face."
Arthur’s face flushed a deep, embarrassed shade of crimson.
"Please, son, we are family," he pleaded weakly.
"No, we are not," I fired back.
"My family is in this hospital bed."
"Take your flowers and leave, Arthur."
"And if you or anyone else from her side tries to contact us, I will file a restraining order."
Arthur opened his mouth to argue, but the look in my eyes stopped him dead.
He slowly turned around and walked away, dropping the flowers into a nearby trash can.
I closed the hospital door firmly, shutting out the rest of the world.
I walked back over to my wife and my son.
"Are you okay?" Elena asked, looking up at me with worried eyes.
I smiled, finally feeling a genuine sense of peace.
May you like
"I am perfect," I told her.
"We are finally free."
