ManyWriters

In the third year of our marriage, I discovered I was pregnant. With my husband away on a business trip in another state, I had no choice but to go to the hospital for a check-up alone.
Little did I expect to see my supposedly out-of-town husband outside the examination room, fingers intertwined with his pure love.
I dialed his number once more. He answered, lowering his voice in irritation:
"Faye, are you incapable of understanding English? How many times do I have to tell you I'm in a meeting! A meeting!"
"You may be blind, but you're not deaf!"
A wave of sorrow washed over me as I slowly spoke:
"Where's this meeting? What kind of meeting?"
"If you're sick, go to the hospital. Stop acting crazy here."
He rudely hung up the phone, then turned to Pure Love's inquiry with a gentle smile.
"Just a blind woman. She's nothing compared to you."
The moment he turned and our eyes met, River's smile froze on his face.

Love's Withered Bloom

Disturbed by the noise, I decided to turn off my phone.


It wasn't until late at night, with nowhere else to go, that I had to return to my former safe haven.


Before opening the door, I received another message from my grandmother.


"Faye, are you coming back this year? Grandma misses you."


Thinking of my aging grandmother, a wave of sadness washed over me again.


"I'll try to come back as soon as I can."


Just as I pushed open the door, River pulled me into his arms.


The disgusting scent of rose perfume filled my nostrils. Fighting back the nausea rising from my stomach to my throat, I shoved him away.


"Where have you been? Coming back so late, I made you a midnight snack."


My gaze fell on the dining table, where a bowl of instant noodles with a poached egg sat. I knew this was his greatest concession.


It was also his signal that he wanted to make up.


I let him nonchalantly guide me to sit at the table. He picked up the long-cold noodles, blew on them, and tried to feed me.


I found it somewhat amusing. He not only had no intention of explaining, but he didn't even bother to ask why I had gone to the hospital.


"Don't you want to say something to me?"


He froze, but still tried to maintain the rare gentleness on his face.


"Faye, I was wrong this morning. I shouldn't have hung up on you."


"I waited all day, and that's all you have to say?"


"Faye! That's enough! I've already apologized to you. What more do you want?""Serenity and I go way back. She just returned to the country and doesn't know anyone. Is there something wrong with me looking out for her a bit more?"


He knew full well what I meant, but still avoided the real issue.


"The baby in Serenity's belly is yours, isn't it?"


"Faye!" Hitting a nerve, River suddenly exploded, abruptly standing up and slamming the chopsticks in his hand hard on the table.


"That's enough. Don't try to test my limits."


The chopsticks that bounced up hit my only functioning left eye, causing tears to stream down from the pain. I had to lower my head and cover my eye.


River suddenly panicked, apologizing like a child who had made a mistake.


"I just don't want you to misunderstand."


"River, I may have lost one cornea, but that doesn't mean I'm blind."


Repeatedly pushing away his attempts to hug me, he sighed and said with some exasperation:


"I just casually mentioned 'blind'. Do you have to take it so seriously?"


My body was soaked with a sense of helplessness. I stood up to leave, but he grabbed me.


"What do you want me to do for you to stop making a fuss?"


Remembering Serenity's text message, I replied: "Make her get rid of the baby."He shook me off in disbelief and let out a cold laugh.


"Faye, you're truly wicked. That's a human life we're talking about. If you were the one pregnant, would you abort the baby?"


I looked up at him, trying my best to control the turmoil within me, and calmly replied:


Chapter 3