Sapphire was my sister in law. And she wasn't the really good kind. She was against the marriage between me and Shawn .And today I had the luck to run into her. I'm not being sarcastic there. I'm really glad because without her, I don't know what would've come of Shawn .
Sapphire was always the kind who doesn't express any emotion at all. She had brought up Shawn when they were orphaned ,when he was 9 and she 12. Perhaps that's what turned her into such a sour person. Forcing a child into adulthood always leave scars, afterall.
Yet today I saw many expressions bloom and wither on her face.
We had run into each other on the side walk. Shawn was on the other side of the road bringing the bags. And as usual we started quarreling. Shawn had rushed forward, to control the situation, perhaps. I'm still struggling to process what happened next.
A car hit him making him rise a few feet and then land on the road in a pool of blood. I was shocked. I fell to my knees. But she, Sapphire, did not. She rushed forth, faster than I have ever expected a woman in heels could go. As I wept on the side walk, she lifted him and got inside a cab.
Someone pushed me in with her. The cab had way less space for him. He was propped against her. His blood seeping into her lavender top and jeans. She held him, whispering encouragements ,as I sat there not knowing what to do. She barked at the driver to go faster.
She held his hand when he was moved to the stretcher and didn't let go until he was taken to the operation theatre, when someone forced her hand off. That's when I realized he was holding on to her. Turned out that he was still conscious . I would never forget how he called her name, Sapphire, as they were forced apart.
Then the wait. Long and painful. I had regained my composure, but he was still inside. Sapphire was leaning on the glass door of the theater, her forehead pressing against it.
Then a nurse came and said something to her. Tears welled in her eyes. My heart felt like it was ripped out. I have never seen Sapphire cry before. But at that moment she broke, completely. She wept hugging the woman, who smiled kindly and patted her back. Then the nurse spotted me and said Shawn is fine.
Sapphire had wept from relief not grief.
when Shawn finally woke up and we were allowed to go in, she shook her head and walked back, gesturing me to go inside.
I realized as I watched her walk away without another word, She's not going because she doesn't love him, but because she loves him too much .
Shawn had made a big mistake by pushing this woman away from him. The woman who put his needs , before hers.
For me. He had pushed away the person who loved him much more than me, for my love.
I wondered if I deserve this as I walked in to see him
