I’m sorry grandpa

SLOANE

I couldn’t sleep throughout the night. Christine’s words kept ringing in my ear. As usual, Rowan didn’t come home. I freshen up quickly and eat my breakfast before going to work. It’s been almost a month since I took my leave of absence, and I’m a little bit nervous; at the same time, I’m happy because I’ll be able to distract myself from the drama in my life. 

The hospital corridors buzz with the usual crowd, footsteps echoing, voices of doctors giving instructions, and nurses trying to calm patients down. I don’t miss the look some nurses give me when I enter. But I assume it’s about the wedding.

“If it isn’t my favorite Intern,” Mark says as he approaches me and gives me a cup of coffee. “You’re the only one that looks good in a scrub.” He teases further. “Mark,” I hit him on his arm playfully. “You need to stop flirting with me, I’m married.” I show off my ring, and an emotion flickers in his eyes, but he quickly masks it before I can recognize it.

“Ouch. You wound me, sweetheart.” He holds his chest playfully. “Anyways, the doctor asked you to arrange all the patient files. According to him, that’s his way of saying happy married life.” His chuckle follows, low and teasing. “Right. Because spending my first day buried in files sounds so romantic. I roll my eyes. Nobody likes arranging files. It’s too stressful.

“By the way, I have a surgery in ten minutes. I'll see you later. Good luck with the files, princess.” He pats my arm before jogging off.

I walk to the locker room to drop my bag, where I notice some girls talking in hushed voices.

“She’s such a big idiot. Why would she think she can compare with someone like that?” The one with the blonde hair says. And the others laugh.

“Poor girl. She’s such a gold digger. Imagine sharing your man—“ the other girl shuts up when I open the door, and they give me a weird look before chorusing ‘congratulations on your wedding’ and laughing. Before I can say anything, they walk away still laughing.

What on earth is this about?

Who are they talking about?

I focus on the files before me and sigh before sorting them. After four hours of arranging, I am finally done with the first shelf. Then I move to the second shelf, and I freeze when I pick up the next file. 

It says. CHRISTINE PRESCOTT. Bold. Black ink. Prenatal care-four weeks pregnant. Emergency contact- ROWAN PRESCOTT. I lose my balance and fall to the ground helplessly.

No. No. No.

This is impossible.

Please tell me I’m dreaming.

Is that why he hasn't come home?

My vision sways. My chest constricts like someone is slowly tightening a rope around it. It can’t be true. Rowan… my husband. Christine… carrying his child. I can’t breathe. I can’t stop the tears from falling. I hear someone open the door, and I quickly hide. I can’t let anyone see me like this.

“Poor thing, she’s busy arranging files, and her  husband is upstairs with his pregnant girlfriend.” The blonde says.

“Why would she wreck such a lovely couple? How did she even get a whole Rowan Prescott to marry her?” Her friend replies, laughing. “She acts like an innocent angel, but I’m sure she must have blackmailed him into marrying her. At least she should’ve considered the unborn baby. It’s such a devilish thing to do. Separating a father from his unborn child.” She continues.

Deciding that I’ve heard enough, I come out from where I’m hiding, and they look at me, shocked. However, I don’t have time for them. I clutch the file on my chest tightly. Without thinking twice, I go upstairs. 

My heart thuds against my rib as I climb the stairs.

I am a homewrecker.

I am a gold digger.

I came in between two lovers.

I am going to separate a father from his son. 

“Hey, hey.” Mark grabs my arm, turning me towards him. “Sloane, look at me. I’ve been calling your name since.” He says, but I keep walking. “You can’t go in there, Sloane. Please don’t go.” He says, then I halt.

He knows.

Everybody knows except me.

Everybody thinks I’m a home wrecker. 

“Sloane.”

“You knew,” I say accusingly. Without waiting for his response, I keep walking. Then I see them. I can’t bring myself to enter the room. From afar, they look like a perfect family, and I’m just a home wrecker.  Christine is lying on the bed, and Rowan sits beside her holding her hand tenderly, as they both look at the baby on the screen.

“I’m scared, Ro,” Christine says with tears glistening in her eyes. “I don’t want to bring my child into this cruel world without a father. Everyone will think I’m trying to spoil your marriage since you married that girl publicly.” She continues, and he cups her cheek. “I won’t let anyone come between me and my child. We are going to raise the child together. If anything, she’s the one who’s trying to break us apart. And trust me, she won’t succeed.” He says, clenching his jaw.

Is that how much he hates me?

“And you know I can’t divorce her yet. I have to wait for at least a year or two.” He continues.

Deciding that I’ve heard enough, I leave the place. I can’t confront him. What am I going to say? he should leave his unborn child? What everyone is saying is right. I’m the homewrecker. I shouldn’t have married him. I made a big mistake. I walk back to the locker room, pack my bags hurriedly, and leave the hospital. Then I bump into someone outside.

Ugh, can this day get any worse?

“Sloane.” I hear Christine's unmistakable voice, and I look up. What is she going outside to do?

“Listen, I know we started on the wrong foot. And I want to apologize for everything. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snatch Rowan from you. But the thing is, he’s also my husband, and we are expecting our baby soon. However, Rowan loves his grandfather so much that he doesn’t want to do anything that’ll make him sad. I don’t want my baby to be away from his father. Please put yourself in my shoes, Sloane. I’m sure if you talk to his grandfather, he won’t force you to stay.” She says in a soft voice. 

Is this girl bipolar? Did she become nice overnight? One minute she’s hot-headed, the next one she’s acting like a saint.

“But-” I don’t finish my sentence before she yanks my hair hard. Fuck! I should’ve known that she’s a pretentious person. What does she have against my hair?

“But what, you bitch! I’m trying to talk to you calmly. Now watch how I make your life miserable.” She sneers. Before I can process what’s going on, she scratches her arm with her sharp nails and starts screaming just the way she did the first day we met.

“I’m sorry, Sloane, please don’t hurt my baby!”

“I’ll leave Rowan for you, please don’t kill me.” She says, writhing on the floor. 

“Christine,” Rowan shouts from afar and runs towards us.

“Listen, I didn’t do-” I don’t complete my sentence before his hard gaze lands on me. He holds his hands up “Enough is enough Sloane.” I have never seen him this angry.

What the hell!!

Rowan grabs me tightly, his eyes blazing with anger. “I warned you several times to stay away from her. What on earth is wrong with you?” he says angrily.

“You’re hurting me, Rowan." I manage to say, trying to free myself from his hard grip. He releases me suddenly, and I fall to the ground. He carries her silently and walks to his car. I loom around and notice a little crowd forming.

God, I can’t keep living like this. He loves her so much that he’s not willing to listen to the truth.

It’s finally time to let go. I’m sorry, Grandpa, I couldn’t fulfil the promise I made to you.

I stand up weakly and dust my scrub. Then I do something that I never thought I was going to do.

I walked away, not knowing where I was going, only that I could never go back.