Wife, Donor, Victim: A Twisted Marriage

was donating bone marrow to save my son, Leo. But I pushed through the pain

's live-in nurse, Geneva. My blood ran c

infertile? They planned it. My entire seven-year marriage was an elaborate lie,

ool to exploit me. I wasn't a wife o

after each donation weren't from love.

floor, and the mask of the lovi

than said, his voice flat. "The

wn. I watched in horror as he took a syringe and drew

pte

ords hung in t

e marrow isn't regenerating fast enough. Another donatio

weariness settling deep into my bones. This was the fifth time I'd heard a var

g in my sweaty palm. My head swam with a

to g

bably worried. He said he

glass of the car window, watching the sun-drenched hills of California roll by. My body ached, a d

them. The house was quiet. Too quiet. I walked softly down

, smooth and confident, and another, a woman's voice,

otted palm, my heart start

eneva' s voice was laced with disbelief and

r our son," Ethan replied. His

on? He had to mean Leo.

a said, her voice dropping. "He needs the ne

his voice. "But she' s resilient. It' s why I chose her. K

we were married. The doctors telling me my injuries were so severe I could never have children.

eneva purred. "Making her infertile ensured

e wall to stay upright, the world tilting on

his voice cold and practical. "Otherwise, her devotion wouldn

mother. Not a

ued, each word a hammer blow a

" Geneva laughed. "Living under her roof, watching her

f monstrous cruelty. My marriage was a sham. My infertility was

en-year marri

king the ocean, the sunset painting the sky. He had gotten

on. "I will love you and cherish you for the re

All

on of a distant relative who had passed away. He said we could give him a home, a

e, I' d

life-threatening condition. The only cure was a bone marrow tra

I would have done a

od, my marrow, my energy, my love. I po

meticulously cr

ll, landing on the cold marble floor with a soft t

e with an inscription from Ethan-"My one, my only, my forever"-glinted

er clothes, exotic vacations. He' d hold me and whisper how grateful he wa

subtly undermine me in front of the staff. The way Leo, as he grew older, would parr

he had learned his p

h something, to scream, to tear this gilded cage apart. My eyes landed on a vase

living room do

me face twisting into a frown

u doing down there?

ced with its usu

aying on her lips. "Oh dear, Mrs. Mcclure,

ll face a mirror of their disdain.

sed in expensive, tailored clothes, radiating health and wealth. And me? I was a mess of tangled h

bubbled up from my throat.

down my face, h

d, the words tearing from my raw

of the loving husband fell away, r

he said, his voice flat. "The

rd was quiet, but it

an' s voice dropped to a dangerou

h mock sympathy. "Elaine, think of poor Leo. H

my shin. It was a weak kick, but in my fragi

rieked, his voice shrill. "Y

was a thousand times worse. This child, the

t away from them. "I'm not your mo

eet, to run, but my le

who had appeared silently in the hallway. "Take

through my anger. They grabbed

. He reached out and stroked my cheek, his touch making my skin crawl.

Elaine," he said, his voice a low m

olent, uncontrollable shak

ises, a constellation of old needle marks. His eyes flickered over them for a se

ening sting. I watched, horrified, as my blood, my li

skin felt clammy and cold, tur

d tossed me aside like a used-up doll. My hea

im hand the bag of my blood to Geneva. She took it

ainst his mouth. "She' s j

is fingers cold agains

aid. "Now we can

om I had so carefully decorated. Their laughter echoed do

old floor, unable to

had taken everything from me. My health, my ability to have a fami

e night toget

g I lay there before

e, musky scent of sex in the air. It clung to the c

I slowly, painfully, pushed myself up. My head

to g

n my desk. Divorce papers. And a transfer of assets agreement. I had a lawyer draw them up months ago

aving breakfast. Laughter and cheerful chatter filled the air

n bother to look at me. She was feeding Leo a pi

ess laugh esc

lways had an excuse for why Geneva needed to stay. The way Leo treated m

e of complete indifference. He had my blood running through hi

look a little guilty. "Elaine, about last nigh

surprisingly steady. I cut him of

d placed the papers in f

confusion. Then his eyes widened slightly as h

his thumb. He probably assumed this was just a despera

h a flourish, a condescending smile on his f

ven read th

er, a massive weight lifted from my sho

had to escap