Til Revenge Do Us Part

lie'

looked as pretty as ever, her smile warm and genuine. It felt good to see her-her presence was like

uet on the bedside table. "How are yo

e. "Tired, but better," I said, not want

look pretty, even with all this stress." I let out a s

t Damien," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper

g up to get some water. "He's really worried about you. He's been so f

texts. No visits. No nothing. I couldn't shake how uneasy I felt. Was she

keep my voice steady. "Yeah, he

t I told him to stay home. It's probably nothing. Just

mind. Vanessa had said it herself with a laugh: "He's so worr

Why not me or o

d mess with your head. Damien had been through a

texted-nothing. My worry grew into something heavier, harder to

hed on, heavy and

with me. A wave of dizziness hit out of nowhere-my vision blurred, the room spun. I tried sitting

ber was the feeling of

.

s nothing compared to the emptiness inside me. As I tried to si

walked in, his face heavy with s

ly, his voice thick with regret. "We cou

hammering in my chest, una

taken for the necessary arrangements. It's standard proced

nk, couldn't move. "My chest seemed to tighten as if something heavy was pressing on it. I knew this was a possi

barely above a whisper as I scan

like a wound that would never heal, but it wasn't just that. I had fought so hard, given up so

d lost the baby, and now it felt like I was losing Damien too. T

e feeling of how far apart we had become. I didn't know where he was,

.

eeded to know-he looked drained, like the weight of everything had caught up to him. But when

see your call. Work's been chaotic, a lot going on. I really wanted to come by

t me with concern. "

him tense up, his guilt pressing heavy against me. He squeezed me gently, and I could tell he wanted to apologiz

trying to calm him. "I'm j

mfort both of us. "We'll get through this, I promise. We've been through worse, right?" His voice was steady, th

by, how we'd heal. I held on to his words, trying to push away the

it, then set it down quickly, refocusing on me. I didn't think much of it. Whatever

d in a week. I felt a wave of relief at the news. D

.

drained me, and I couldn't wait to get home, to see Damien and find some sense of normal again. Th

called out for Damien, but there was no answer. Then, faint but clear, I heard laught