Julie

Since so many people are struggling with how I ended “The Unthinkable”, I am going to be posting some of my favorite Julie scenes. I will showcase her unique relationship with each of the other characters and I would love for you to tell me some of your favorites, too!

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Excerpt for “Love Endures”

Julie walked slowly into the curtained area and could barely see him through all of the bandages, tubes and wires. She nodded to the nurse who was adjusting the IV and waited until she was done before moving closer to the bed. The nurse smiled at her and moved a chair closer to the bed before leaving. Julie silently thanked her and finally made her way to her husband.

His blond crew cut was visible under the bandage on his forehead. He had oxygen in his nose but his face looked relatively normal. His arms were uncovered and there were cuts and bruises covering much of his exposed skin. She was unable to see anything else, because he was tightly covered. She felt her tears flow as she reached to touch his face, her hand hesitant to make contact for fear she would hurt him.

“I’m here, my Billy. My love, I’m here,” she said softly and leaned in to brush his lips with hers. She reached and took his hand in hers, careful not to move any part of him.

“Jules?” he said weakly.

She almost wept at his voice.

“I’m here baby.” She touched his cheek and he opened his eyes, their clear sapphire going right to her heart.

“Am I dreaming?”

“No, I’m here with you. You’re going to be fine. I love you.” She wiped her eyes, knowing how he hated when she cried. “I love you. I’m so sorry,” he said brokenly. “Shh, there will be none of that. You are going to be fine. I’m here and I will not leave you. You are going to be fine.” She stroked his fingers.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen. I was supposed to grow old with you.” He felt his own tears fill his eyes and if there was one thing she couldn’t stand, it was seeing him cry. She wiped his tears.

“We are going to grow old together. You need to believe that. I will accept nothing less.” She leaned in close to him and stroked his cheek. “Do you feel this? I’m all yours, baby. You have no choice but to fight for me and your son. I need you and you promised me a life full of babies.” She smiled. “You will keep your promise.” He closed his eyes.

“I’m so tired, Jules. I don’t think I can do this. I am broken; something really bad happened to me, I can feel it.” She felt her heart break into a million pieces.

“William, you need to look at me.” She waited. “Look at me right this instant.” She spoke forcefully. He looked at her and she held his face in her hands. “Now I need you to listen to me. You face down an enemy every day and you never back down. This time, the enemy is here, in your face; and you will not back down; do you hear me? You are to challenge it and fight, and that is a direct order.” She leaned close to him. “I am fighting with you and together, we cannot lose.”

He looked at her. “I can’t move. I can’t feel anything. How can I fight?” He closed his eyes again.

She took a deep breath, trying to control her emotions. “Let me tell you something.” She waited for him to open his eyes. “When I touch you, I can feel your heart beating. I am not in love with your parts, baby, I am in love with your heart. If something doesn’t work, we will find another way. That’s what we do. We don’t give up or give in, we fight and we find a way.” She wiped his tears again, “Remember? What you see is what you get.”

He held her gaze. “What you see is what you get.”

She nodded. “Now all you need to concentrate on is surviving. Whatever else happens, we will deal with it together, as a family. You just need to live for me and for our son.”

His chin quivered as he listened to her. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to leave you.”

“Then don’t. Don’t give in to your fear or pain. You can do this, please Billy, you need to fight with everything you have. Please do it for me. I can’t live without you.” She sobbed as he closed his eyes and she felt arms around her. She turned and pressed her face into her brother’s chest, crying as if her heart was simply destroyed.