Page 72 of Viparious

Then it all goes quiet, the only sound in the room is my sniffles and muted sobs as swollen hands gently hold my wrists. I don’t want reality, so I don’t move. As long as she’s still in my belly, she’s safe, I can keep her protected. The doctor repeats himself in the same dismissive tone.

“You need to focus on your breathing instead of being hysterical.”

I’m going to fucking kill him. I’m trying to breathe but him speaking down to me isn’t fucking helping. It gets worse when he continues being a condescending prick, stating I’m being over-emotional.

My father-in-law just tried to fucking kill me, of course I’m going to be emotional.

Vlad’s deadly bark relaxes me, and he protectively curls his arm around my head.

“Get the fuck out. I don’t even want to see you in the vicinity of my wife again.” Leaning over me, he softly whispers into my ear, “Can you take your hands off your face for me, moya koroleva?”

Nodding without moving my arms, my breath stutters and a nurse gently says, “Come on honey, let’s get you sat up.” Her tone is filled with care, and Vlad strokes my wrist with his thumb, coaxing me out.

She has warm hands, and they gently press under my shoulder. I gain one inch as the crippling pain restarts, and my body spasms. I can’t control it, and this isn’t normal. I can’t breathe, and I can’t fucking protect my own child. My screams and sobs distort Vlad’s voice, infusing panic he would never feel.

“You’re going to be safe. I will never let anything happen to you.”

I continue shaking and my breath stutters my words as I choke out all that matters.

“Ch-choose h-hu-her.”

It’s muffled by my arms, and I manage to counteract the shaking enough to move them and latch my fingers onto his lapel. I don’t see his wild eyes or the way his chest is moving too fast as I repeat myself, “Choose. Her.”

My vision doubles, and everything becomes louder before my vision blurs at the edges.

“Help my fucking wife!”

Vlad’s voice bounces off the walls as I battle against unconsciousness. My limbs get heavier, weighed down as though someone is sitting on them, and the same happens to my chest as I try to claw in air. More warmth between my legs, more blood. Too much, I can see it seeping through the thin sheets as violence fills the room and black spots dance in my vision, fully claiming me.

TWENTY-ONE

Vlad

I’m pacing.

If I stay still, I’ll think.

If I think, I’ll spiral, and fate will make it come true.

As long as I move, Inessa is fine, she’s just behind the doors being cut open, but fine.

The baby is okay.

Not blue.

Even though the floors are blue, they won’t be.

I keep pacing as though I can remove the color from existence.

Not blue.

It repeats in my head like a cyclone.

Everyone is sitting behind me just staring into space. Maximoff’s disapproving stare is drilling into the back of my head. He can go fuck himself. Inessa is his granddaughter, but she is my wife. Even if she doesn’t want to be and won’t be for much longer. A divorce won’t change her title to me. I’ll do what I have been since she moved, giving her everything I can silently. Watching her from afar and stealing pockets of peace without disturbing hers.

Turning to start a new rotation, a doctor makes his way to me, and I stop. There are no emotions in his expression to give away what he’s going to say. But she’s not dead, I’d know already. Her presence is too big for there not to be some change in the atmosphere to mourn her.I would fucking know.

You didn’t know last time.

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