David’s response was calm, almost rehearsed, as he reached out to steady me. “I know, honey, I know this has been hard on you. But it’s the New Year. Can’t we just move on? Give me some face, okay? Ryan’s just a kid—playful and a little careless. I’ll make sure to teach him better next time. Nothing actually happened. You’re fine now. Let’s not blow this out of proportion.”
It hit me then—he didn’t care about my feelings at all.
I closed my eyes as tears slipped down my cheeks. In that moment, the reality of who David truly was became painfully clear. He wasn’t my partner or my protector. He was just another person who expected me to endure, to compromise, to suffer in silence for his convenience.
One thought burned in my mind: 'I want a divorce.'
The events that had brought me to this breaking point replayed in my mind like a cruel highlight reel.
...
I remembered falling onto the stairs, the sharp sting as my hand scraped against the wood.
My mind had raced with panic, but somehow, I’d managed to shield my stomach. Behind me, the sound of triumphant, gleeful laughter echoed.
Clutching my belly, I struggled to stand. David rushed over—but not to help me. His attention was on Ryan.
“What the hell are you doing?” David barked. “Don’t you know your aunt is pregnant?”
Ryan’s chubby face twisted into a smug grin, his squinty eyes narrowing.
“I know,” he said with a casual shrug. “I did it on purpose.”
David froze, his anger replaced by disbelief.
When he finally spoke, his words were hesitant. “What you did is dangerous, Ryan. What if you hurt her? You can’t do that again, okay?”
Ryan smirked, the audacity of a spoiled child radiating off him. “I read in a book that if a pregnant woman falls, she’ll have a miscarriage. I wanted to see if Elaine would have one.”
Rage boiled over in me, hot and uncontrollable. Without thinking, I slapped him, the sharp sound cutting through the room.
Then, fueled by fury, I kicked him in the stomach. He doubled over, clutching his belly, and started crying.
When I’d fallen, no one had moved to help me. Not one of them.
But now? Now they swarmed me like vultures, their outrage palpable.
“How could you do that? He’s just a child!”
“Exactly! Did you really have to hit the kid that hard? You’re heartless!”