The Price Of His Choice

poke to Elliott in hushed tones about the fragility of my condition, the danger to the baby, the absolute need for

" he whispered, his hand hovering over mine, not dar

empty. His words meant nothing.

wed, his voice breaking. "

lea. He flinched, pulling it from his pocket as if it w

yes shifting away from mine. "Jus

. He couldn

ce raspy, a stranger

tartled, his ey

ant you to leave. I want you to go to Kenya and her

pulled a plug. "Jalynn, don't talk like that," he pleaded, hi

oice flat, devoid of emotion

shing my arm. I recoiled, my body tensin

an fix this. You, me, our baby... we're a family. I'll get you the bes

y throwing words at a wall

d, my voice a whisper. "You always order it with a splas

is mouth sl

my gaze fixed on the IV drip. "You bought me ro

t me, his f

finally meeting his eyes. My own felt dea

he cried, a despera

s. "And I'm done pretending too

iet room. "No, you don't mean that! What abou

u broke the moment you looked at her again? The ones you trampled while you were playing happy f

He tried to speak,

ry rising within me. "When I was in excruciating pain? When I was bleeding

uttural sound. "I... I was with

u were posing for pictures, looking like the perfect father, the perfect husband, with her

gh my veins. I pushed myself up, ripping the IV from my arm wit

and hurling it at the wall. It clattered uselessly. "A selfish, pathetic liar!

lf!" He rushed forward, but I pus

ious. "Why didn't you just say you wanted her? Why did you drag me through thi

mmered, his voice weak. "I thought... I thought I could handle it. She was

ng, suddenly felt heavy, cold, like a stone sinking in a dark well. "Your '

, his voice cracking. "What abo

a whisper, as if the last embers of my love had finally died out.

ock and regret, was now a stranger's face. I fe