Chapter 5 - Bethany POV

Bethany POV

I wake in a hospital room.

This confirms my fear. I’m getting worse.

My body confirmed what my brain was telling me as I tried to lift myself up the bed. I coughed and struggled to catch my breath as my beautiful Livvy walked in the door followed by Ally. Ally was Livvy’s person and in this moment I am glad that she had someone to help her be strong. 

I am tired of being strong. Growing up in poverty you grow up fast. You learn to adapt. You learn not to rely on paychecks or government handouts. They can be cut off at any point. I went to work at the age of 16 and my money was never mine. I put food in our scarcely full bellies. My mother became sick when I was 18 and my father decided watching her die was too difficult and left me to do it alone. I had to be strong. I took care of her and made my way through university. She let go after i graduated and i was almost glad she was no longer in the immense pain she felt towards the end. I met my husband Matthew shortly after at my job. I never thought love at first sight was possible until I saw Matthew for the first time. HIs chestnut hair and emerald eyes captivated me like none other had before. There was one drawback. He wasn't interested in little old me. He was totally out of my league. The boss’ son. 

I proved to be a hard worker and through utter determination I worked my way up and began to enjoy a heftier salary. Saving everything I could for a rainy day. Growing up the way I did made me frugal. I did, however, invest in nicer clothes to accompany my new position in the company and that caught Matthews' attention. We began dating and the rest is history. We married and had our beautiful daughter Olivia. Once again I had to be strong as Olivia's little lungs did not work properly initially and she spent a lot of time in the NICU. Matthew was devastated and I had to be the glue that held us together. The glue that stopped him falling apart. As Olivia grew her lung issue disappeared and I thanked the stars for that. I was determined that Olivia would never have the life I did. She wouldn't grow up knowing the feeling of an empty belly or the burden of providing for the family. I worked more hours than I could count ensuring that she wanted for nothing. Matthew taught her everything he knew. By age 10 she could change a plug fuse or fix an issue with the toilet. She said she wanted to be a handy person when she grew up which made us all laugh. We saw her take her exams and ace them. Apply to Universities and get accepted to all of them. We were there through the difficult relationships, the tears and laughter, we helped her through the stress of writing her dissertation. We saw our beautiful girl graduate with honours. I will never forget the sparkle in her eye when she got that diploma. That night however her father was in a car accident and tragically passed away. Once again I had to remain strong for my baby. I held her as she bawled when the police officers came to inform us that the drunk driver had been arrested on the scene and her father never made it out of the car. 

I supported her through her chosen career and screamed and jumped when she got her dream job as a PA. The happiness was short lived when 6 months later my diagnosis was revealed. I was given less then a year. I wanted to give in, that moment. To give in and scream at the world but I couldn't. One look at my daughters face and I knew. She needed me. I couldn’t wallow in my own self pity. I needed to be prepared for the worst so I could prepare her for it.

Yet here we are nearing the end and she doesn't look prepared. She looks terrified.

I give her a weak smile as she comes in for a cuddle. Ally looks worried but is better at hiding it. 

“How are you feeling mum? I came as soon as I could!” She blurts out instantly as I stroke her back.

“I would have been here earlier mumma but you know nurses, they can be like bulldogs!” Ally, always the feisty one and I love them for it. 

“It’s alright my loves. I am actually feeling better. Thank you for coming to see me but I am okay. I am in the place I need to be.” My throat feels dry and my voice comes out in a rasp.

Ally passes me a beaker of water and I drink it with a grateful nod. 

“Livvy, I need my rest and you need yours. Stay for a while but not too late. I will be safe here and you need to impress that new boss of yours.” I smile at her to hide the pain I’m feeling as I breathe. 

Her face reddens and Ally giggles.

“Oh mumma I dont think our Livvy needs to impress anybody!” By the end of their statement they are howling with laughter and Livs face just gets redder and redder.

“Ally will you stop it!” she says through clenched teeth.

“No. Ally please do tell!” I ask full of intrigue.

“Why dont you ask her who dropped her off here?” Ally wiggles their eyebrows at Liv and I think she just wants the floor to swallow her up.

“My boss dropped me off. I accidentally called him when my car bailed on me and he picked me up.” She covers her face with her hands and Ally’s guffaws fill the hospital room.

“Ally that's enough now” I raise an eyebrow at them and they stifle their laughter. “Livvy you have only worked with him for half a day and you already have his personal number? Be careful my girl, I imagine he was brought up very differently to you. Just make sure you don’t get forced into a difficult position.”

“Mum, honestly it isn’t like that. Connor isn’t like my previous boss. He is more down to earth, he wants to build a friendship and he respects boundaries. Well when he isn’t looking at me when he thinks I won’t notice.” She looks almost dreamily at nothing in particular and now I am definitely worried.

“GURRRRLLLL! You got it this bad after one day. Don’t get me wrong he is Drop Dead Gorg…. Oh sht! It’s him isn’t it. The one from the park. The one you stare at when he’s walking his dog! Fuck me, I might start running in the mornings if thats the kind of eye candy you get to oggle!” Ally is laughing again and even I can’t stifle my giggle. That’s Ally, a positive force in a negative situation. 

“Ally!” Liv is now almost purple with embarrassment. “I told you that was a secret!” 

“Oh gurl you have it bad and he’s your new boss! How are you going to handle the park run in the morning? Do you know what that doesn’t matter because knowing you, you will bail and miss out on a casual encounter with your sexy boss man.” 

I relax onto the bed still holding Livs hand and listen to them go back and forth. I know that I will be gone soon and it gives my heart joy to know that Liv will be okay. She will be strong. Because I don’t think I can be anymore. I’m just so tired.

Unknown POV

Getting to know someone's schedule is easy when they always stick to the same routine. Going to the park, to the office, home. Every. Single. Day. 

It makes it easy to learn things about them. Their favourite take away, when they go shopping and where. What they buy. Who their friends are. Who they fuck. Their secrets. Everyone has secrets. Some can hide them better then others. Others are easy to manipulate because of their secrets. 

Following someone like this becomes an obsession. You obsess and fantasise about that person until they are all you can think about. But still they don’t see you. Don’t acknowledge your existence. They will regret that in the end when I have taken everything from them. When I have destroyed their happiness because they are slowly destroying mine. 

Years and years of hard work down the drain.

They will pay.