Page 93 of Wretched Choices

I try to speak, but my throat is dry.

“Here, take a sip. A small one.” I do as she says, still wondering who the woman is and where the hell I am.

The water slips down my sore throat. I wince when I realize my body hurts. Everything hurts, even my face.

“The doctor will be here any minute now. Relax. Don’t exhaust yourself thinking too much.”

Again, I do as I’m told because what’s the point of arguing? My head hurts. I can’t open my eyes properly, and I’m tired.

Just as I want to close my eyes, the door opens and Salvatore enters, followed by a doctor.

Salvatore.

When I see him, a flash of memory pops into my mind. The last thing he said to me before he started to ignore me.

I can’t see his face properly; I plead in my mind for him to come to me, but he doesn’t. He stays at the foot of my bed as the doctor checks me. My eyes search his, but he isn’t looking at me. He is looking at something behind me. I take my eyes off his and wait for the doctor to finish.

“You were lucky, and it looks like you have a strong will for living. When they brought you in, you were in a terrible condition.”

“Why does everything hurt?” I croak.

“The nurse will give you something for that, but for what you have been through, it’s a miracle you’re still alive. You have six broken ribs, and one of them punctured your lungs. Concussion and swelling on your brain from what only can be a hit on your head. But you are a strong young woman. You will heal,” the doctor says, and before he leaves, I ask him what he didn’t say.

I move my hand to my belly, trying to feel the little human living inside me, but I feel empty.

“My baby?” My voice shakes as I can barely utter the words.

He looks at me with an apologetic look in his eyes. “I’m sorry. We couldn’t save it.”

Tears fall down my face. The hurt doctor’s voice became just a whisper the moment he said the wordsorry.

Gentle hands wrap me in a hug, and the smell of roses makes me cry. Cecilia. When did she get here? I didn’t even see her.

I cry in her arms, wondering why Salvatore isn’t the one that holds me. I should cry in his arms. He should tell me everything will be okay.

I need him to tell me everything will be okay.

But he isn’t.

And the emptiness becomes unbearable as I cry for everything I lost.

For the life we could have.

For the dreams that shattered.

I cry until the nurse comes back into my room and gives me something so I fall asleep.

The next time I wake up is after my nightmare. The memories of what happened to me. And there is a blank space for the days I was unconscious that I don’t know anything about.

I lost my baby, who I promised to protect and couldn’t. Someone beside my bed stirs, and in the dim light, I can see Cece. Tears fall down my face as I remember how I cried in her arms and not Salvatore's. She opens her eyes, instantly standing and leaning over me, carefully embracing me.

“I’m so glad you’re awake. I was so worried about you.”

I say nothing as I just hug her and cry in her arms again.

“I know. It will get better. Just get it all out. I’m here.”

I cry until there are no tears left.

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