"Ethan, are you crazy? I told you I’m at a bachelorette party. Caleb and I just lost a game and had to do a punishment, that’s all. We haven’t had any other contact. Are you sick or something? Why do you keep calling and nagging? With you acting like this, who would feel safe marrying you?"
Listening to Hannah's sharp words, I started to feel dazed. Had I really seen wrong?
I checked her best friend’s social media again.
Now, the only photo left was a group picture of the girls. Caleb was gone.
Just as I was about to let the matter go, I received a call.
"Hello, is this a relative of Hannah?"
"Yes, I am. Who are you?"
"Hannah is unconscious in the hospital. Please come to the Central Hospital immediately!"
I put down my spoon and ran out.
My mom called after me, “Ethan, slow down! She probably just fell on the way back!"
My nerves were on edge the entire way.
As soon as I arrived at the hospital, I signed the paperwork and paid the fees.
Looking at the medical report, I froze.
"Per… perineal tear? Nurse, are you sure there isn’t a mistake? We’re just getting married…"
"What kind of man are you? Do you not care about your woman at all? Even if you're just getting married, you can’t go at it for seven days and seven nights! Are you trying to kill her?"
Seven days. Seven nights.
Holding the diagnosis report, I swallowed against my dry, cracked throat.
"I… I’m not talking to you! Where’s she? Hannah!"
I pushed past the nurse and rushed toward the patient rooms.
The nurse glared at me. "Are you out of your mind? Even a farm mule doesn’t get worked this hard."
I ignored her and started searching every room.
She wasn’t there. And not there either.
Then, from a distance, I heard Hannah’s laughter.
I stood in the hallway, dazed, my eyes locking onto the last room at the end.
Without hesitation, I kicked the door open.
"Hannah!"
She was already awake, leaning against the bed, giggling as she watched a drama.
"What are you doing? You scared me!"
I stormed in and threw all the medical papers onto her bed.
"What is this? What’s the meaning of this?"
She kept stuffing potato chips into her mouth, looking completely unfazed. "I was just having some fun. Do you really need to make such a big deal out of it?"
A wave of heat exploded in my head.
"Hannah, do you have no shame at all? Do you even realize we’re just getting married?"