Confusing Earth - Chapter 20: Broken

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Chapter 20: Broken

“Stop it” screamed Bella, “Give me the medicine Nathan.”
“Bella,” said Max, “You don’t want it to get stuck.” He continued to place the wet facecloths he got for Bella in a pile on the floor, ready for use.
“Just give it here Nathan” screamed Bella, followed by a couple of gasps of pain. Nathan just stood there staring at Bella.
“Bella, the pain will be over once it is born” said Maree, “You don’t need to stop it that badly.”
“Give me the medicine” demanded Bella, before groaning in pain. She looked at Maree. Bella’s eyes begged Maree for help. Maree snatched the bag from Nathan and threw it to Bella. Max tried to grab it. Bella pushed him away hard. He fell over the pile of facecloths he had made, hitting the floor with a thud. Bella grabbed the vitamin C tablets, ripped the lid off and downed about half the bottle. She did the same with the horseradish pills. Nathan and Maree stood just watching astounded. She then pulled three cold tablets out of their individual compartments and swallowed them too. She sneezed once and then changed back to her human form. Max groaned and rolled over onto his back. He stared at Bella. So did Nathan and Maree. They stared and stared. She was no longer flickering between forms. She had controlled the symptoms of her illness. She had fixed herself but also ruined her chances of having a child.

“It didn’t get stuck” Max finally muttered. Bella took a deep breath and slowly turned to face him as though she had forgotten he had ever been there. She continued to breathe deeply and then finally said, “Sorry for pushing you Max.” She then glanced at Maree, Nathan and Liam and walked out of the room.
“Where are you going Bella?” asked Nathan. She didn’t reply but just went straight into the room she was staying in and locked the door behind her. Nathan, Maree and Max followed her, with Liam in Nathan’s arms. Maree grabbed the handle but discovered the door was locked.
“Bella” she said timidly, “are you okay?”
“I don’t want to talk about it Maree” said Bella through the door, “Thank you for your concern but just leave me be.” Nathan, Maree, Max and Liam all looked at each other. Nathan passed Liam to Max.
“Just go you three” said Nathan.
“But…” said Maree.
“No buts” said Nathan, “Just go in the lounge”.
“Aren’t you going too?” asked Maree quietly.
“Not yet” said Nathan, “I will be by soon.” Maree, Max and Liam stared at Nathan for a moment, and then silently walked off. Nathan sat at the bedroom door, his back leaning on it. The broken skirting boards seemed more obvious at this height. Nathan leaned his head back onto the door, closing his eyes. Within the room, he could hear sobbing. The few minutes Nathan lasted without saying anything to the wooden door to get through to Bella seemed like an eternity, with her sobs penetrating his heart. The minutes of eternity passed.
“You did the right thing Bella” said Nathan.
“I know” sniffed Bella through the hardwood, “but you don’t.” Nathan did not know what to say to this, so he said nothing.

PREVIOUS CHAPTERS

Chapter 19: Flame: @birchmark/confusing-earth-chapter-19-flame

Chapter 18: Second: @birchmark/confusing-earth-chapter-18-second

Chapter 17: Glasses: @birchmark/confusing-earth-chapter-17-glasses

Chapter 16: Spider: @birchmark/confusing-earth-chapter-16-spider

Chapter 15: Sister: @birchmark/confusing-earth-chapter-15-sister

Chapter 14: Sprinkle: @birchmark/confusing-earth-chapter-14-sprinkle

Chapter 13: Jam: @birchmark/confusing-earth-chapter-13-jam

Chapter 12: Rite: @birchmark/confusing-earth-chapter-12-rite

Chapter 11: Lovely: @birchmark/confusing-earth-chapter-11-lovely

Chapter 10: Currant: @birchmark/confusing-earth-chapter-10-currant

Chapter 9: Reliable: @birchmark/confusing-earth-chapter-9-reliable