IN THE HOSPITAL,
Hours had passed since Vera was rushed to the hospital, still unconscious. Stan sat beside her, his eyes fixed on her frail figure lying on the bed. He had driven to her office in a panic after her distress call, only to be told she had already been taken to the hospital.
Without hesitation, he had rushed over, only to be met with a horrifying sight. She had been soaked in her own blood.
His gaze shifted to the IV lines connected to her arm. One of the bags contained a deep red liquid. Blood. She had lost so much that an immediate transfusion was the only thing keeping her alive.
Thankfully, the hospital's blood bank had already found a compatible donor. The transfusion had started the moment she was admitted. The doctors managed to stop the bleeding, but she still hadn't woken up.
Stan exhaled slowly, his chest tightening. His hand trembled as he reached for her, brushing his fingers lightly over her cold, pale lips before pressing a gentle kiss against them.
"Why?" he whispered.
Why had she done this? The baby was gone. But she had nearly died. The doctor said she almost lost her womb. Why had she risked everything to get rid of the child?
Just days ago, they had talked. He had agreed to keep the baby. So why did she change her mind?
A dull pain grew in his chest, and his thoughts were a mess of hurt and confusion. Then, slowly, guilt filled him.
This was my fault.
He had always been clear that he never wanted a child. He had told her that from the beginning. But hadn't he changed his mind? Hadn't he told her they would keep the baby?
Then why… why did she do this?
The doctors had assured him she would wake up soon, but the predicted time had already passed. What if something else was wrong?
Stan sat next to her, holding her hand gently. He gave it a light squeeze, his heart full of worry. His face showed pain as guilt and doubt fought inside him.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, even though a part of him wasn't sure if he truly believed it was his fault.
As soon as he spoke, he felt her hand move a little. He stopped breathing for a second. His eyes stayed on her face, quietly begging her to wake up. Then, slowly, her eyes began to open.
"Babe," he whispered, his voice shaky with emotion as he leaned in.
But her eyes didn't look at him. They stared at the ceiling, empty and blank. Fear gripped him hard.
"Babe!" he said again, softly touching her cheek with his thumb. At last, her eyes turned to him, but the way she looked at him made his heart sink.
She looked at him as if he were a stranger.
His chest tightened. "How are you feeling?" he asked softly.
Her lashes fluttered, her lips parting slightly.
"Sweetie," she whispered, her voice weak and uncertain, as if trying to place him.
A mix of relief and pain crossed his face. He swallowed hard, forcing a small, broken smile.
"It's me."
Vera's eyes wandered around the room. There was no doubt, she was in a hospital. The sterile scent, the beeping machines, and the IV stand beside her confirmed it.
But her gaze lingered on one bag in particular, the one filled with red liquid. Blood.
Her brows knitted together in confusion.
"What happened?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, weak and fragile.
Then, like pieces of a puzzle, the memories started coming back. The sharp, unbearable pain. Collapsing to the floor. Someone rushing to her side. Calling Stan.
Her breathing hitched.
Stan leaned in and pressed a light kiss to her forehead. "You're fine now."
But that wasn't enough. She turned her eyes to him, studying his face. "What happened?" she asked again, this time with more strength, her gaze sharp and demanding.
Stan's chest tightened. How was he supposed to tell her the truth? That she had taken an excessive dose of abortion pills? That she had bled so much she nearly died? That she not only lost the baby but almost lost her womb?
The pressure of the truth crushed him, suffocating him from the inside.
"I'll call the doctor." His voice was clipped as he evaded her question, rising to his feet and quickly leaving the room.
Moments later, he returned with the doctor, who immediately walked over to check Vera's vitals.
After a brief examination, the doctor nodded. "She's stable now."
Vera barely acknowledged his words. Instead, she looked directly at him, her eyes burning with questions.
"Doctor, what happened?" Her voice had gained a little strength, a stark contrast to the weakness in her body.
The doctor glanced at Stan, who stood silently at the side, his expression unreadable. Then, turning back to Vera, he spoke carefully.
"The abortion dose you took was too high. You almost lost your life, but fortunately, you were brought in on time."
Vera's breath caught.
"Abortion dose?" she repeated, her voice laced with confusion. Her eyes darted between Stan and the doctor, searching for an explanation.
The doctor studied her reaction before shifting his attention back to Stan. "Though she's stable, she won't be discharged immediately. She needs more time to recover."
Vera was in a daze. The doctor's words echoed in her mind, but she couldn't grasp them. What abortion pill?
Suddenly, her eyes snapped wide open, a wave of panic crashing over her. The child!
"What about my child?" she asked, her voice filled with fear. She shifted her gaze between Stan and the doctor, searching for answers.
The doctor gave her a confused glance, his voice distant as he packed his instruments. "The pills did their job," he said, before turning and leaving the room.
Vera felt as though a heavy force had slammed into her head. She looked at Stan, whose expression was unreadable, his face writhed with emotions she couldn't figure out.
"Stan?" Her voice trembled with confusion.
He took a deep breath, walked over to her bed, and crouched down beside her, his eyes dark with something she couldn't name.
"Babe, I asked you over the weekend. You said you would keep the child." His gaze bore into hers, intense and searching.
"You would have told me if you didn't want it. I would have called a professional." There was sadness in his voice, regret in his eyes.
"I don't get it," she whispered, shaking her head slowly.
Nothing made sense. She hadn't taken any pills. She hadn't wanted to get rid of the baby. What were they all saying?
Stan gently took her hand, his touch soft but firm. "Babe, you almost lost your womb... your life. You bled so much you needed a transfusion."
He nodded toward the IV bag filled with red liquid. Vera followed his gaze, her stomach dropping as realization hit her. That liquid was blood. Her eyes widened in shock.
"You shouldn't have," Stan's voice was thick with emotion.
He hadn't wanted to be a father, but he never wanted her to risk her life, her health, for him.
"I was willing to go through it with you because I love you," he added, his words full of sorrow. "I didn't want you to hurt."
Vera's mind began to piece everything together. The doctor's words, Stan's words, they all pointed to the same conclusion.
She had lost the baby. She had miscarried.
Not just that. She had taken pills to induce the miscarriage, resulting in excessive bleeding. Bleeding that nearly cost her life and her womb.
Vera's eyebrows pulled together as she felt lost and confused.
"I didn't take any pills," she said softly, her voice shaking as her eyes blinked slowly.
"I didn't," she said again, looking upset.
Stan kept staring at her. He could see she was confused, but was she telling the truth? Or pretending? If she really didn't take the pills, then who did? It didn't make sense. He was sure she took them.
"If you didn't take the pills, then who did?" he asked, trying to stay calm, but with doubt in his voice.
"I didn't take any pills," she said again, firmly.
Stan's eyes narrowed as he processed this. If she hadn't taken the pills, then they must've been administered to her. But by whom?
"Who else knew about the pregnancy?" he asked, his mind racing with possibilities.
"You, me, Jason, and the doctor," she replied, her eyes narrowing in thought.
"What have you eaten today?"
"Just the breakfast I made... You had yours too," she answered, her voice thick with grief.
"The breakfast?" Stan said quietly, as things started to make sense in his mind. "No… that can't be."
It didn't add up. He had eaten the same breakfast, and he wasn't suffering like she was.
"Did you leave your office before breakfast?" he pressed. She shook her head, confusion still clouding her expression.
Nothing was making sense.
"Your body needs rest. Don't think too much," Stan said gently, seeing how tired she looked. But deep down, he felt she wasn't telling the whole truth. She hadn't left her office, and no one else knew she was pregnant. That meant she must have taken the pills herself.
Even though he wanted to ask more, he let it go for now. Her health was more important.
But Vera's mind was still a mess. Her thoughts were all over the place, and every answer only brought more questions.
How did the pill get into her system?