Two officers restrained Ryan as he struggled, voice shrill. "Accident! She slipped! Didn't know she was pregnant! Not my fault!" Officers surveyed the scene, took preliminary statements, tried Emily. Pain blurred her consciousness; weak nods and shakes replaced words. Notes taken, an officer turned to Ryan, voice arctic. "Sir, you'll need to come with us." Handcuffed as they led him away, Ryan twisted back. His gaze, venomous needles, pierced me. No remorse. Only twisted fury and resentment. A cold, malicious smile curled his lips, words slicing through chaos: "Guard your wife better! Fragile thing, breaks at a touch! Bloody bad luck!"
Gone
His words stabbed my shattered heart. My child... My Emily... The ambulance screamed towards the ER. I followed, a hollow shell. Antiseptic stench. Stark lights. Rushing staff. Blurry chaos. One thought consumed me: The baby? Emily? The operating room doors sealed for an eternity. Every second was torture. Huddled on a cold plastic chair, head in hands, trembling uncontrollably. Regret drowned me. Three months. Living together. Sharing a bed. Blind.
Hospital
Preoccupied with jealousy and fragile pride, I ignored her body's signals. If I'd noticed sooner. Cared more. If... The doctor finally emerged. A faint, dark red smudge marred his coat hem. Removing his mask, he approached me, expression grave. "Mr. White?" I lurched up, legs buckling. "We did everything possible," his voice was low, clear. "The impact caused placental abruption leading to massive hemorrhage. The baby... couldn't be saved. I'm terribly sorry." He continued: D&C procedure, Emily needing recovery, overnight observation...
NEXT >> 
