~SHATTERED~

~The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit~

- Psalm 34:18

Song - Goodbyes by Post Malone ft Yung Thug

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Aubrey revved up his motorcycle, weaving through the crowded streets as he sped towards the hospital. The rain started to fall, casting a gloomy mist over the city. Aubrey's clothes were soaked through, but he didn't care. He had to get to Sophie.

His phone rang countless times, but he didn't bother picking up when he realized it was his mother.

As he approached the hospital, Aubrey could see a throng of people milling about outside. He dodged ambulances and pedestrians, his motorcycle screeching to a halt at the corner of the building. Aubrey leapt off the bike, abandoning it as he sprinted towards the hospital entrance.

"Excuse me! Excuse me!" he shouted, pushing his way through the crowds of people.

But as he reached the entrance, a burly security guard stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "I'm afraid you can't just barge in here, sir," the guard said, his voice firm but polite.

Aubrey's eyes flashed with anger. "I don't care about your rules!" he snarled, trying to push past the guard. "I need to see Sophie! She's dying!"

The guard stood firm, grabbing Aubrey's arm to hold him back. "Sir, I understand that you're upset, but you need to calm down and follow procedure."

Aubrey's face twisted with rage, and he shook off the guard's grip. "I don't have time for this!" he shouted, shoving the guard aside and sprinting into the hospital.

He skidded to a halt at the reception desk, slamming his fist on the counter. "Where is she?" he demanded, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Where is Sophie Jackson?"

The receptionist looked up, startled. "Ah, yes. . . Sophie. Let me check." She typed on her computer, her eyes scanning the screen. "Yes, she's in room 301. But I have to warn you, sir-"

Aubrey didn't wait to hear the rest. He took off like a shot, racing down the corridors to room 301. He burst through the door, his heart pounding in his chest.

And then he saw her. Sophie lay in the bed, her face pale and drawn. Tubes and wires snaked out of her body, beeping and whirring as they monitored her vital signs.

Aubrey's eyes filled with tears as he rushed to her side. "Sophie," he whispered, taking her hand in his. "Oh, Sophie. I'm so sorry. I should have been here sooner."

Sophie's eyes flickered open, and she smiled weakly at Aubrey. "Aubrey," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'm glad you're here."

Aubrey's grip on her hand tightened. "I'll never leave you again, Soph," he promised, his voice cracking with emotion. "I'll never let you go.

"I'm sorry for being a jerk," Aubrey apologized.

"I'm sorry too," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Aubrey's grip on her hand tightened, and he felt a lump form in his throat. "No, Soph, I'm the one who should be sorry," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. "I was so blind, so stupid. I should have trusted you, believed in you. I don't know what came over me."

Sophie's eyes filled with tears, and she reached up with her free hand to touch Aubrey's face. "You're here now," she whispered. "That's all that matters."

Aubrey felt a wave of emotion wash over him, and he leaned forward, pressing his lips to Sophie's forehead. "I love you, Sophie. I love you more than anything in this world."

Sophie's eyes drifted closed, and a small smile played on her lips. "I love you too, Aubrey," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

They did their special handshake, Sophie's hand trembling as they intertwined their pinky fingers.

Aubrey held her close, feeling his heart break with every beat. He knew that he might lose her, that she might slip away from him at any moment. But he was determined to hold on to her, to keep her with him for as long as possible.

He examined her condition. "Who did this to you? What happened?"

"It was Julian Saint."

"The owner of the casino?"

"Yes. Remember I told you I got fired because I refused to do his. . .evil bidding. He sent some goons to kidnap me, and then he. . ."

"He what?"

". . .he shot me."

Aubrey's eyes widened in horror as Sophie's words hung in the air. He felt a wave of anger wash over him, a burning rage that threatened to consume him.

"He shot you?" Aubrey repeated, his voice low and deadly. "Julian Saint shot you?"

Sophie nodded weakly, her eyes filled with tears.

Aubrey's face twisted with anger, his jaw clenched in a fierce grimace. "I'm going to make him pay."

Sophie's eyes widened in alarm as Aubrey's anger boiled over. "Aubrey, no! Don't do anything stupid that'll endanger you!"

But Aubrey was beyond reason. He was consumed by a fierce desire for revenge, a need to make Julian Saint pay for what he had done to Sophie.

With a fierce cry, Aubrey slammed his fist into the wall, making Sophie jump. "I'll kill him," he snarled, his eyes blazing with fury. "I'll make him pay for what he's done."

"Aubrey, please," she whispered. "Don't do this. It's not worth it. He's in prison now."

"I'm sorry, Soph, but I don't care. He shot you! He tried to take away my source of life. He indirectly tried to kill me! I was his loyal customer at that casino, and now I feel so ashamed and foolish."

"Aubrey, I-" Sophie's eyes drifted closed, and Aubrey felt a surge of panic.

"Sophie?" he narrowed his eyes at her. He quickly sat close to her, holding her hand. "Soph, no! Don't go to sleep. Stay with me."

But Sophie's hand went limp in his, and her chest stopped rising and falling. Aubrey's heart sank, and he felt like he'd been punched in the gut.

"Sophie! Sophie, wake up! Please, don't leave me!" Aubrey shouted, shaking her shoulders and trying to rouse her.

The machines surrounding Sophie's bed began to beep and whir more frantically, and a nurse rushed into the room. "Sir, I need you to step back. We need to attend to her."

Aubrey hesitated, but the nurse's firm tone and the urgency of the situation made him back away. He watched in horror as the medical team swarmed around Sophie's bed, trying to revive her.

The minutes ticked by like hours, and Aubrey felt like he was losing his mind. He paced back and forth outside the ward, his eyes fixed on Sophie's still form through the circular glass on the door.

Aubrey's eyes felt dry and gritty from staring at Sophie's still form for what felt like an eternity. He had never felt so helpless, so powerless, in his life. He had always been the strong one, the one who took charge and fixed things. But now, he was faced with something he couldn't fix, something that was beyond his control.

He felt angry, scared, and helpless all at once. He didn't know what to do, or how to make things right.

And then, without thinking, Aubrey did the last thing he thought he'd never do. He prayed.

"Please," he whispered, his voice shaking with emotion. "Please, God, don't take her away from me. I'll do anything, just please don't take her away. I know I've only come to you once, or maybe twice, but please don't punish Sophie, she's been your devotee. Take me instead! Just please, don't. . . don't take her."

Aubrey's eyes felt hot and wet as he spoke the words, and he was surprised to feel a lump form in his throat. He hadn't prayed in years, not since he was a kid. But now, faced with the possibility of losing Sophie, he felt desperate, willing to try anything.

As he stood there, praying, Aubrey felt a strange sense of calm wash over him. It was as if he had finally surrendered, finally admitted that he wasn't in control. And in that moment, he felt a sense of peace, a sense that everything was going to be okay.

Aubrey's phone chimed, indicating a message from Emily. As he scrolled through it, he came across Sophie's voicemail. "Aubrey, it's me. I need your help. I'm in trouble. Please call me back as soon as you can."

Aubrey's eyes widened as he listened to the voicemail, his face falling as he felt a pang of guilt.

Finally, the doctor emerged from the ward, his face somber. "I'm so sorry, Mr...?"

Aubrey jolted up immediately. "Aubrey," he supplied, his voice shaking.

The doctor nodded. "Mr. Aubrey, I'm afraid we've done everything we can. Sophie's injuries were too severe and. . .she's gone."

Aubrey felt like he'd been punched in the gut. He stumbled backwards. "No," he whispered, his voice shaking. "No, no, no. This can't be happening." He ran both hands through his hair, trying to process the news. Everything seemed to rewind in his head. He felt like he was going insane.

The doctor's expression was sympathetic, but firm. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Aubrey. We did everything we could."

"No, that can't be. She was. . .she was supposed to have two weeks left."

The doctor's expression was sympathetic, but firm. "I'm afraid the cancer had weakened her body, Mr. Aubrey. The gunshot wound was too much for her to handle. Even if we had been able to save her from the wound, the cancer would have eventually taken her life."

Aubrey felt like he was going to throw up. He couldn't believe that Sophie was really gone. He couldn't believe that he would never see her smile again, never hear her laugh.

The doctor's words cut through him like a knife. Sophie had been living on borrowed time, and he had been too blind to see it. He had been too focused on his own anger and hurt to realize that Sophie was slipping away from him.

Aubrey's eyes filled with tears as he stormed into the ward and stumbled forward, collapsing onto the bed beside Sophie's lifeless body. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he sobbed uncontrollably.

"Soph. . . Don't do this to me, I already apologized, right?. Don't leave me, Soph. I need you. I love you."

Aubrey's tears fell onto Sophie's face, and he gently wiped them away with his fingers. He held her hand, feeling for a pulse, but there was nothing. She was really gone.

Aubrey's sobs grew louder, more intense, as he realized that he would never see Sophie's smile again, never hear her laughter, never feel her touch. He felt like a part of him had been ripped away, leaving a gaping hole that could never be filled.

As he held Sophie's body, Aubrey felt a wave of regret wash over him. He regretted not being there for her sooner, for letting his anger engulf him. He had thought there was still time, but no. Julian murdered her!

He held Sophie's body, feeling like he was holding onto the last shred of his sanity.

The hospital room faded into the background as Aubrey held Sophie's body, his heart shattered into a million pieces. He knew that he would never be the same again, that a part of him had died along with Sophie.

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A/N

what am I writing 😭😭

it's so effing sad💔😭😭😭😭😭

gawwwwddd, help me😭😭