I became foolish, holding on to the idea of giving birth to my ex-husband’s baby.
I lived in a small basement room, worked a part-time shift at a diner and supported myself and the tiny life growing inside me.
I talked to him every day, telling him about my daily life.
I bought him many tiny outfits, even finding a crib at a used market.
I gave him the nicest things I was able to buy.
I thought everything would stay steady, but one night I suddenly had heavy bleeding.
“The placenta has dropped low all of a sudden, almost covering the whole cervix.”
“You need to stay in the hospital to keep the pregnancy, or you won’t be able to keep the baby.” The doctor’s flat voice felt like a hammer hitting my heart.
The price for keeping the pregnancy was too high; I couldn’t afford it.
With painful tears running down my face and blood under me think of Freddie.
Lying on the hospital bed, after struggling inside, I finally called Freddie.
The ringing dragged on.
When Freddie answered, it felt like forever.
“Hello?”
“Who is this?” Freddie’s voice came out in shaky breaths, mixed with short groans.
My hands started shaking right then and I quickly hung up the phone.
Awful memories pulled at my nerves and I slowly made out Freddie’s face.
Freddie grabbed my hand in a rush, his hold getting tighter.
“Bella, where is the baby? Is the baby still there?”
I pulled away from him. “Freddie, if you’ve lost your mind, go talk to a doctor.”
“Stop watching those silly rich-boss shows. I’m not dumb, not stupid enough to have my cheating husband’s kid!”
Freddie didn’t accept it, pointing at my belly. “Then how did these marks show up?”
“I didn’t see them before.”
I furrowed my brows in anger. “Nonsense.”
Just as I was about to walk off, Imogen’s voice sounded behind me.
“Bella, let us drive you home.”
“It’s hard to find a taxi at this hour.” Imogen hurried over, holding my bag.
I lifted my chin and agreed.
Once we sat in the car, Imogen started talking nonstop about her pregnancy checkup.
Freddie replied with no interest.
In the rearview mirror, his eyes kept drifting toward me. “Bella, this is my first baby with Freddie.”
“Freddie cares so much about him, he even asked someone to find the best maternity hospital!”
“If you ever need anything, I can introduce you to someone.”
With a small smile and her eyes narrowing, Imogen said to me, “Oh, right, I still don’t know where Bella lives!”
“St. Bernard, Zone 5.”