Love Aint Always Pretty

Quatervois

- a crossroad; a critical decision or turning point in one's life.

Origin: French

58

NICK'S POV

SEVEN YEARS AGO

I ran to them and tried to hold Catherine as she groans for pain. I shot her. I'm crying hard and there were more blood. So much blood. Catherine's blood stained her dress as it runs down on my hands.

"Call for help! Call for help!" I yelled at Hans.

Hans stands away and quickly pulled out his phone. I'm shaking. I'm shaking as I hold Catherine on my arms. She smiles weakly as she squints her eyes cos of the pain.

"Catherine.... I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." I repeated the same exact words.

"Shhh... It's not your fault Nick. Don't... Arghh.. Don't blame yourself." Catherine says while grunting.

She wipes my tears. "It's not your fault love."

I shake my head in disagreement.

"I'm sorry." I cried.

"My dad won't let me tell you this... But Nick... Y-you're a father now." She holds my shaking hand then placed it on top of her bump.

"This is your baby." She says.

She smiles while tears were crawling out from her eyes. "Our baby."

My head bent down and more tears were coming out from my eyes. I hate myself. I hate myself for what I did.

"If I don't survive..." Catherine says with such shakiness in her voice.

"Don't say that." I begged.

She smiled weakly. "Please... Please save him Nick. Save our baby. Save him for me Nick." She says while crying.

"Promise me you will." She takes a grip on my hand.

I nod and kissed her forehead as I hold her close to my chest.

I shot Catherine.

I shot Catherine.

I put our baby in critical condition.

"Live for me. Live for me and our baby Catherine. I need you. I need both of you. Please live for me. For us. Please. I'm begging you please stay." I kiss her hand.

She smiles and nods. "I will."

As soon as help came, I went with Hans in the ambulance and both of us neither talked to each other. When we arrived at the hospital, I was still holding Catherine's hand while she fell unconscious. I would always kiss her hand and my tears just won't stop from falling. I'm so scared of what I have done. I don't want to lose her. I don't want to lose out baby.

"Catherine please be okay. Catherine. Catherine you promised me." I cried.

My hands were still shaking while I hold her hands close to my lips. My lips are trembling too. I kissed her knuckles as my tears were streaming down my face. My tears are just unstoppable. Catherine was unconscious now. She went unconscious during the drive. My heart is racing. Fear is gathering inside my body. I'm scared. I'm so scared of losing her. Hans was also crying but he hasn't talked to me during the entire drive to the hospital.

"Sir I'm sorry but you can't come through this door. Sir please step back." The nurse said to me as he pushed me away.

I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled my hair back. I'm so mad at myself. I shot her. I almost put her to death. Oh god please save Catherine and save my son. Please save our son. Suddenly, I see Alec from the corner of my eyes who ran towards me and Hans.

I came here as soon as you texted me. Where's Catherine?" Alec asked me as he placed his hand on my

I couldn't answer.

she?" Alec

shot Catherine!" Hans yelled and

I groaned as he started hitting me but Alec pulled him away from me while some female patients screamed when they saw it. Nurses and some other hospital staff ran towards us and started trying to stop the commotion cos Hans was raging his anger out at me. He tried to throw

dude!"

Catherine's father will know about this, you're fucked! If something bad will happen to Catherine, I

Let's just stay away from here for

if something will happen to Catherine, I would blame myself too. I let Alec take me somewhere else cos people were looking at me. My clothes are stained with Catherine's dried blood and my hands are stained too. I'm crying too hard and my heart is hurting

you do?! Nick! God damn it Nick look at me!" Alec moved me to

eyes moved to

the fuck Nick?! Did you really shot Catherine?" Alec

to be her." I

you really wanted to kill Hans?! Are you out of your mind? Didn't

killed my mom but he got away with it cos he's filthy rich! He paid the witness to shut up. He paid the police station

in critical condition! What if it will harm Hans' baby,

fell down on my knees, "Catherine said that was my baby, Alec." I cried for more as

"W-what?"

to Alec. "That baby

in front me.

I fell into Alec's arms. He rubbed my spine and I just

do without Catherine, man. I just don't know what to do if... if

Alec. I'm so

at me. "Everything's gonna be okay. Catherine's a

••••

to where I left Hans and as soon as I got back, I saw Catherine's family -- her parents and Jenna. They're all crying and looked

be okay?" Jenna asked as tears

will. She will be ok. Your sister won't leave us." Mrs. Forster says while she kissed

moved his head to where I was standing. "You have the guts to stay

walked towards them. They looked at me with anger. So much anger.

so sorry."

split of a second, Mr. Forster's fist landed on my face and I almost fell on the floor. Alec catches me but then

that's enough!" Jenna

keep the case close? Did you even say

"You bastard!"

The doctor stepped out of the room and my heart just feels heavier until he pulls his surgical mask down. Hans was holding Jenna close to him while Mr. & Mrs. Forster

Mrs. Forster asked with a

sorry."

No.

No!

that!" Mr. Forster

my god." Mrs. Forster falls onto her husband's

her but... She's dead on arrival. We are truly sorry." The

my god Catherine. My baby girl. My

her. I killed Catherine. I killed the one I

pain. My mind is numb but racing in circles. This isn't making any sense

Mrs. Forster

as she

the baby?"

pulled my head back

my child?"

seriously has the guts to claim

I don't know if I was ready for what he

make it as well." The doctor answered. "We are

into the abyss of complete sorrow. Catherine. My baby. My son. We were suppose to be a

so sorry."

police

shake my head sideways. "I killed her Alec. I killed both of them. They died