Jen cried as she looked over Anthony. He had been sick for the past couple of days. She had called the doctor who told her what to do to help him get better. Jen's mom came into the room and looked at Jen who was now sitting in the rocking chair.
"Jennifer," her mom said.
"Yeah," she answered half asleep.
"Go into your room and get some sleep. I'll look after Anthony for you."
"No, that's okay, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Are you sure that you're alright? Ever since you went to see Nick, you've been out of it," her mother commented.
"Yeah, I'm just worried about Anthony, that's all," she said.
"Okay, but if anything comes to mind about a way for me to help, come and get me okay?"
"Alright I will."
"Good," her mother said slightly hesitating before leaving Jen alone. Jen sighed when she heard Anthony cough. She wished Anthony would get better. Jen soon began to slowly drift off to sleep, but was interupted when she heard the door open. Her head popped up quickly to see who was coming in.
"Sorry if I scared you," AJ said.
"AJ, un no, that’s okay," she told him.
"Alright. How’s Anthony? I heard he’s been sick."
"He has been, but the doctor gave me some medicine to help him."
"I was thinking of you guys," he said, "I thought that I would come see you guys."
"That was really nice of you," Jen told him.
"Yeah."
"How’ve you been?"
"Alright I guess," he answered.
"You guess?"
"I’m not really sure what to tell you. I feel kinda guilty. I mean I know that you aren’t thrilled about this. I promised that I wouldn’t hurt you, but I did. Even if it was just slightly for a couple of seconds, I still feel as if I broke my promise."
"AJ, it’s okay really. I’ll be fine," Jen said.
"That might be true, but just let me make up for breaking my promise."
"Look, I was the one who left, don’t worry, you don’t have to do anything," Jen insisted.
"How about we hang out together sometime when Anthony gets better?"
"Maybe," she said simply.
"Okay," AJ said, "Jen do you want me to go?"
"Yeah. It’s nothing personal, I just need to think. I really don’t know what to do or what to say."
"Alright, I guess I’ll see you around," AJ said looking at Jen. She looked back at him as he closed the door.
Jens mom looked at AJ when she saw him slowly come down the stairs. She watched and waited until he reached the bottom.
"Any luck?"
"No, not any," AJ replied disappointed.
"Damn it, I thought that you would have had some sort of effect on her."
"Yeah, me too."
"It was worth a shot," Jens mom said hoping to make AJ feel better.
"I guess."
"What’s wrong?"
"I just think that I made a big mistake. She was worth keeping."
"Than why did you let her go?"
"I thought it was what she wanted."
"You see, that’s where you went wrong. Not only do I doubt that’s what she wanted, you didn’t even asked, you assumed."
"I could tell...."
"AJ you tried so hard not to be like Nick and for the most part you weren’t, but not thinking about Jennifer and hurting her made you like him."
"That’s not what happened. Throughout the whole relationship, all I cared about was how Jen felt. She was the most important thing in the relationship."
"Well, in the end, I don’t think you really talked it out with her. Otherwise I don’t think we would be having this conversation."
"She was the one who ended it with me. She was the one that wanted me to make sure we were doing the right thing. I loved her, I still love her."
"AJ look, maybe you guys just weren’t meant to be. I think Jennifer attached herself to you because you were the first one willing to be there for her. There may not have been true love there."
"There might not have been any love on her part, but there was nothing but pure passionate love on my part. I just didn’t know how to deal with it. I had never been in love before I was with your daughter. I messed up."
"No AJ you didn’t mess up. Jennifer just wasn’t the one for you."
"Why can’t I believe that?"
"Because you won’t let yourself," she said.
"What are you saying?"
"I’m saying that something in your heart won’t let you realize that you two are over. Maybe it’s because you’re a good person and you don’t want to cause her any more pain, that’s what I think it is because you really are a great guy. I have nothing agaisnt you. To tell you the truth, I wanted you two to work out. It’s unfortuniate that it didn’t, but if you feel you can’t move on because you are truly in love with her. Well then you really don’t love her as much as you think because if you did, you would want her to be happy no matter what."
"That’s the thing, she’s not happy!"
"You think I don’t know that? Everyday I see her in pain and I’m not able to help her. How do you think I feel? I’m supposed to be able to make it better!"
"Just be there for. As simple as it sounds, it really helps," AJ said.
"AJ look, give Jennifer some time. Maybe she’ll realize that there is something special about you that she’s not going to find in anyone else," she said kindly.
"Yeah, maybe," AJ said leaving.
Chapter 26