Chasing After My Wife

Christmas came and everyone where having a great time except Travis and his family. They still received their presents from Jillyanna which Travis took over to hand out. Their helpers got a huge bonus and a two-week vacation. Jillyanna prepared it when she was still around. Jade got the greatest number of presents among all of them. Her father's and mother's friends gave her gifts and she was thankful to all of them.     

However, behind closed doors, she would cry her heart out because her mother wasn't awake yet. She had been sleeping for quite sometimes without any signs of waking up. She just wanted for her mother to come home. She didn't care if she didn't get any gifts.     

They didn't really celebrate this year's Christmas. After Travis gave their gifts, he left and went back to the hospital. He wasn't able to visit his mother's grave and his mother-in-law's grave as well. He would always visit them during this time of the year but this time, he was too cope up with so many problems that he put off his visit for the mean time.     

One more week and it would be another year. Once February comes, Jillyanna's birthday would be around the corner. Yet, the woman whose birthday was coming was still sleeping on her ICU bed. They were just waiting for her to respond to any kind of stimulus but she was so difficult to deal with.     

Her vital kept on fluctuating, putting everyone into a sudden panic, fear and anxiety rushed up to their throats whenever she's being revived. Travis had made the hospital his home already just like how JIllyanna did it when he was the one on the hospital bed.     

Every morning, he would visit his son in the nursery ward and asked for progressive report. Around five in the afternoon, Shein would come to see him and show him the details of the work that was done in a day. Sometimes, he would bring documents that needed his signature and approval. At the same time, he would check his sister for himself.     

The season was getting even more colder and the snow outside was getting stronger and heavier. Jade wasn't allowed to come out of the house so, most of her time was spent with everyone inside the villa. They already went home to Jillyanna's house instead of staying with the Madrids.     

Jade insisted to them that her mother would be sad if the house was left alone. There was Anton's little graveyard that they needed to take care of as well. Because it was jade who plead towards the elders, they allowed them to leave. Since they arrived home, they never went out of the house. They didn't even bother checking the group of villas that Travis asked to build. It was Brown who would check the site and the workers to make sure that they were still alive and working amidst the snow.     

Their life was dull and boring. Jade continued to study with Jackie's help. Riley was able to finish her job before the year ends so, she also helped jade with her study together with Jackie. The two of them took turns in teaching her and on weekend, it will be Shein who will teach her computer and Walter who will come to visit her.     

People already accepted the fact that Jillyanna resigned from the music industry and that she rather lived her life in a carefree manner. It wasn't new to them that she wasn't posting anything on her timeline. It wasn't new to them that she wasn't sending pictures of her and her family. Therefore, no one speculated that Jillyanna was actually in a critical condition. It never crossed in the people's mind.     

Travis would wake up, eat his breakfast, take a shower before going to check the baby and then his wife. He would take his lunch, take a short nap, wake up after an hour and checked his wife in the ICU. He will eat his dinner, take a half shower, checked his baby and his wife before getting some sleep. Woke up in the middle of the night, drink some water, check his baby and his wife before going back to sleep. This was basically his schedule and it went on and on for god-knows-how-long.     

It wasn't even a month since she was sent to the hospital but to him, it seemed like a year had passed already. Even though he wasn't the one who was lying critically, he looked thin compared to when Jill was still around. He looked exhausted and his eye bags were getting darker even though he sleeps at night.     

No one can blame him though, even when he slept, his heart and mind were never put to ease which still caused exhaustion both mentally and physically. Savannah always reminded him to take care of himself but as long as Jillyanna won't wake up, he would never be fine. He was like a walking corpse with flesh and blood.     

Days had passed and New Year arrived still, no sign of waking up. "I thought we get the chance to celebrate Christmas and New Year again." Travis stated while holding on to her hand. "I thought we'd meet the new year together. Well, we basically meet the new year but only your body is present." He kissed the back of her hand and squeezed it. "Jill, I will wait for you. Just don't give up. No matter how long it will take, we will wait for you. By the way, baby Raizel was developing greatly. The doctors and nurses said that he will be fine after a month but they would still observe him to make sure that nothing will happen. Don't you want to see him?"     

Inside the ICU, it was just him and the unconscious body of his wife. His back looked lonely and even when you couldn't hear what he was saying, with the look of his face alone, you can tell that he was pouring his heart out again.     

Savannah felt her throat constricted when she saw his dejected expression. He was a man of pride but in front of his wife, he was just someone weak who couldn't bear to separate with his wife. When he signed for the paper between his child and his wife, he chose his child over her.     

In fact, Travis knew that Jillyanna had a very slim chance to survive. It had been discussed several times to them but as long as there was a chance, he would hold on to that and wait for her. He believed the doctors. He believed that they would help him. He knew that she would fight for him and for the family that they put together.     

She still wanted to witness Savannah's engagement. She still wanted to become a godmother to Cielo's baby. She still wanted to see Riley become a successful actress. She still wanted to witness Jackie become a police officer that she would be proud of. She still wanted to take care of their child. She still wanted to experience the role of a mother and to stay beside him forever.     

Travis knew that there's no way she would give up these things. Every single day, he would remind her of these things. He would speak to her as if she was really listening. That's what she did for him back then and he was just doing the same thing. She believed in him so he will also believe in her.     

Winter came to visit again. She was coming in and out of the hospital to see her best friend and her cousin. Calhoun didn't give her a vacation period since she just got one not long ago. She had so many things waiting for her at work so she could only slip from time to time whenever she has no scheduled task.     

She wanted to ask their teacher to help Jillyanna but she realized that it would be of no help as well. Their teacher can only cure an illness caused by poisons. An illness like CHD was out of her scope and she didn't even know how to operate. Winter gave up on that idea and could only silently pray that she will be fine and wake up soon.     

Travis didn't like speaking to anyone. Whenever someone spoke to him, he would either nod his head or shake it. If he would speak it will be a 'YES' or 'NO' answer. The only person that he ever spoke with was his wife. The nurse and doctor in the nursery ward were used to his personality already. Whenever he showed up, they would instantly tell him the update of his baby. He didn't even ask questions to them.      

The person who would ask them question after question was Brown and Savannah.     

"Hey, I have a little concern." Savannah spoke to Winter to get his attention.     

"What is it?" Not just Winter but Hawk also turned to face her.     

"I was just wondering, with the way things turned out, Travis won't hate his son, right? He won't blame him for losing her, right?" Savannah asked. She had reasons why she thought that way. Travis had been acting weird and even though he visited the child, he didn't really stay for a long time before going back to Jillyanna again.     

Winter took a deep breath and sighed. "He won't hate the child, I guarantee that. From what I can see, he hates himself instead of the child. Perhaps, he was guilty because the child was born prematurely. He was blaming himself because he was the reason that this happens. I know my cousin. He would never hate the child that was made of Jilyanna's flesh and blood." Winter stated firmly. "I understand your worry but there's no need to. RV will surely love the child."     

Of course, there's no way for him to love Jade who wasn't even his child and neglect his own son. He and Jillyanna were looking forward to meet their baby. He will be his strength and weakness.