Ex-Husband's Regret

A new version
Rowan

There is something that happens inside you when you see your ex–wife, the mother of your son, shot and bleeding on the cold cemetery ground. Something I never thought I would feel towards Ava. 1

When I saw the men with guns pointing at us, I didn’t fucking think. I knew Noah was safe with my parents so my instincts took over and I dived for Emma. I would die for her and I was prepared to do just that..

I was relieved when the shooters ran after seeing the police but my relief was short lived when one of the officers shouted for an ambulance. I turned around wondering who was hurt, only I didn’t expect it to be Ava and seeing her hurt almost brought me to my knees.

It was a flurry of events after that. The ambulance arrived and the officer refused to let Ava go until he made sure she was safely in the able arms of the doctor.

I was pissed at his reluctance to let her go, she was my wife, I mean ex–wife but more importantly I was pissed at myself. I should have protected her. If something worse had happened to Ava, how would I have explained it to Noah? How would I justify the fact that I had failed to protect his mother?

So here I was pacing back and forth in the waiting room. So fucking worried because we hadn’t gotten a word since Ava was rushed to the emergency room. No one had come out to inform us of the prognosis.

“Please let her be okay” Kate, her mother whispered.

This is the first time I’ve heard any emotion in her voice when she talked about Ava I guess losing her husband and then almost losing her daughter softened her a bit.

We were all here with the exception of Noah Travis was seated next to Kate who was next to

Emma

I sat down unable to control the anxiety inside me. I needed her to be okay for Noah’s sake. I kept telling myself

I don’t know fo

ow long we were waiting, but when I looked up I saw Ava. She was over at the nurse’s station handing off papers. Her left arm was in a sling as she took her credit card and put it in her bag.

With difficulty, she managed to get out her phone, while still holding her bag. You could see that it wasn’t an easy task by the frown on her face.

+15 BONUS

“Ava” I called as she was about to walk past us. Her eyes still on her phone.

She looked up. I immediately noticed that something about her was different. I couldn’t place my

finger on it but it was there.

“What are you doing here, did someone else get hurt?” she asked. Her voice flat and devoid of any

emotion.

“How are you doing?” her mom asked instead of replying.

“Unfortunately for you, I’m not dead yet”

Her answer took everyone by surprise. Not only because of how she worded, but because of how cold it was.

I decide to cut in. “Where are you going”

“Home” was her only answer.

“Your hand is in a sling, you can’t drive” I reason.

“That’s why I called an Uber”

“Ava we need to talk. It’s about you father” Kate whispers making Ava turn to her mother.

was something missing. I could see it

don’t see what that has to do

consider me his

but Ava doesn’t pay any attention

off all her feelings leaving nothing behind but

the door but then stopped. “Where is

answered.

like you’ll get

you” I

Emma but she’s got to understand.

and she is hurt.

down. “No need. I’ll use the Uber like

else, she turned and left. We stare at the place she just stood a

she would jump at any opportunity to be close

she rejected my offer.

+15 BONUS

and leaves before we’ve had the chance to talk” Kate says

every speed limit,

who was basically ignoring them. It was weird seeing this side of her. Most of the time she would try to make small talk with them even when they

with” she says in irritation as she

wanted to partner with me. I

wanted anything illegal to touch our companies. We knew that it would be inevitable if we continued with them so we found a way to terminate the contract, and

as if

events of today. “Turns out the gang members were among the most wanted, they didn’t take it well that we had

it from there. “They started threatening your father. They promised to make him pay then came after his wife and children. They blamed him because he was the one

my parents already knew. I look at Emma to find shock

and the same dead and cold look is still

do with me” her voice is cool as she looks at

“I’m going to

this seriously” I say through

danger she was in. How‘ things today could’ve

planning

I don’t

+15 BONUS

I was feeling. “You were shot today shouldn’t that tell

him. “All it tells me is that I was in the right place

goes to speak but Ava cuts her

were after the three of you, not me. Everyone in this damn city knows that none of

so what’s the use of going after someone he

if she died?”

us.cold. This was so unlike her. What

to look at me. Her eyes are devoid of any emotion. It’s like

the way she looked at me bothered me. I hated that I

her eyes

there’s someone you should worry about, someone whose safety should be your priority then. it’s the woman beside you. She was his perfect little princess, so stop dragging me in

created” she pauses then faces the rest. Staring each and

need it and if it turns out I’m danger I will deal with it by

at her in surprise. Unable to recognize the

her.Emma springs up and stares her down,

down but not this

bitch, just like always you want everything to be