Stanton Box Set

“You can go, Max,” I say flatly to him.

He rolls his lips as his eyes flick to Natasha. “I will stay with her if you need to go out,” he replies.

“That won’t be necessary. I will be staying and looking after her. Thank you.” I can’t hide my annoyance that he knows more about my girl than I do.

He nods and leaves the room.

I sit on the chair in the corner of the room and watch silently as the doctor checks her over.

“Natasha dear, I am going to give you a sedative now. Do you want me to call someone to look after you?”

I stand. “I will be staying to care for her.”

Natasha holds out her shaky hand as she smiles weakly and I take it in mine. The doctor smiles at our interaction.

“This is a sedative that I am giving her and she will be out for around eighteen hours.”

I frown as I listen. “It’s ok, she has had this many times before. It is the only way we can get the migraine to stop. It’s quite common.”

I nod and watch the doctor give her an injection.

“Here is my card, call me if you need anything,” the doctor says and then she leaves us alone.

“Is your hand ok?” Natasha whispers.

A lump in my throat forms, here she is half dying and she is worried about a nick on my hand.

“Yes, sweetheart, I’m ok,” I lie down next to her and put my cheek to hers.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“Don’t be stupid, it’s not your fault. I’m sorry you have to stay here with me,” she whispers.

I bend and kiss her forehead.

“Josh, I need to go to the bathroom.”

I nod, help her up and lead her to the bathroom and wait silently while she goes.

“Is your head ok?” I ask as I brush her hair back.

“I’m ok, you know me, the ultimate drama queen. Nothing in halves,” she smiles and I find myself returning her smile. I really do love this woman.

“Come on, back to bed.” I help her back up the hall and she changes clothes and slowly hops into bed. The clock reads 4.45 am. I lay next to her and hold her close as she drifts off into unconsciousness.

It’s 12 pm, Tash is fast asleep like an angel next to me in bed and I am on my laptop googling migraines and their treatment. Apparently she was having them every couple o

f weeks after her father died. Not as bad as this though, according to Max. The only time she had one this bad was when I came to her after we broke up and she turned me away. That one went for four days and they sedated her twice in a row. I needed sedating myself at that time. My eyes flick to the beautiful woman lying next to me. I wish I could just get over this shit and forget the past. I just can’t … I’m trying. I am so in love with her and it’s fucking with my head, scared to live with her, petrified to live without her. I can’t stand this hold she has over me. She rolls and I notice her pyjamas are slightly soiled, what’s that? My eyes widen. Shit, she has her period. My eyes dart around the room in a panic. I don’t know anything about this shit. Hang on, it’s early, it’s not due for another week, maybe she’s haemorrhaging.

I run to the lounge room to retrieve my phone and ring Cameron.

“Hey,” he answers.

“Cameron, you need to get over here immediately. Natasha is unconscious and haemorrhaging.”

“What the fuck?” he snaps.

“No, not like that. I mean she has a migraine and the doctor knocked her out and I am looking after her and now she is bleeding.”