the tragedy of what could have been is nearly as crippling as what once was but can never be again. Bridgerton modern verse. — 18+.
Joined March 2026
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Gareth dragged his tongue over his lower lip, rubbing at the nape of his neck with a large, calloused hand. He took a moment, trying to figure out a way to get through that damn stubborn head of hers.
“She needs you, yeah? You’re the only one that’s been here for her. —
“One hour? Come on, Hy, humor me for that long. I swear I will wake you if you need me to,” he explained in a genuine voice, slowly removing his grasp from her arm though he truly loved the close proximity.
Gareth took a confident step and grasped at her forearm, though his touch was light and hesitant while he waited for her reaction. His eyebrows knit together, knowing deep down that she was far from alright.
“You need to study, yeah, but what happens when you collapse?”
“Mm… maybe, but coffee can only help so much, ya know?” he spoke in a hushed tone the entire time, peeling his eyes away from the peacefully sleeping baby to give Hyacinth his undivided attention.
“Look, I’m sure the last person you wanted here was me, and I have no —
That does not surprise me in the least. I meant with Hyacinth, the baby… my baby, apparently. I’m not accusing, just trying to figure out if I was the only one kept in the dark.
The moment he heard the yawn escape her lips he turned, completely forgetting about the tears that had welled up in his own eyes. And in that split second? That was when he really looked at her.
“You’re exhausted. Have you been sleeping?”
Gareth remained just as he was, affixed on the tiny babe in his field of view, though it had seemed to grow quite a bit blurry—something he’d never admit. His feet somehow carried him in closer, large, calloused hands gripping the rail of the crib.
“A month old?”
To be quite frank, he hasn’t even glanced back at Hyacinth in a moments time. Not on account of him ignoring her, no, because of the tiny baby girl before him sound asleep. He’d never seen something so small, and honestly? He was a bit mesmerized.
“She looks like you.”
“I’m not that naive. I know how babies are made… I don’t really know what I’m trying to say, alright? I’m just—this is a hell of a lot to take in,” he explained, realizing he’s gotten a little loud so he quiets quickly.
“How? I—“ he cleared his throat, realizing that words were very difficult right now. If it had been any other girl, he would have swore that she were lying. Hyacinth was far from a liar.
If he had an ounce of drink in his mouth, it surely would have been spit out. Thank goodness he didn’t. His eyes shifted between the baby and Hyacinth, feeling the speed of his heart picking up tremendously—it was as if the air had been sucked from his lungs.