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

There was a knock at the door. Thinking it was Grandma returning from her outing, I opened it, only to freeze in surprise. It was River.


I had no idea how he'd found this place. He looked down on small-town folk and hadn't once accompanied me to visit Grandma in our three years of marriage.


River had always been image-conscious, but today he seemed to have come in a hurry.


His dark suit was visibly wrinkled, as if he hadn't had time to iron it.


His gaze fell to the paper in his hand - the abortion procedure form, now crumpled in his grip.


Upon hearing my answer, he suddenly grabbed my wrist, yanking me forward and making me stumble.


"How could you? What gives you the right to get rid of our child?"


I felt like I didn't understand him at all. Wasn't he the one who said he was relieved we didn't have kids?


Now that we really didn't have a child, why was he putting on this act? Who was it for?


"River, I did what you wanted. You should be happy."


Chapter 8