The Night He Chose Her

nor

om pregnancy, was empty. The ghost of a kick, a phantom flutter, was all that remained

t was all a cruel joke. Every tender touch, every whispered promise, ev

mly, deliberately, pulled my hand away. The gesture was small, but

small café where you proposed? You knelt, a single red rose, promisi

with a hint of discomfort. "Eli

Engraved with 'A & E, Always.' You said our love was eternal, unb

dropping to his hands. "I me

leed, alone, while our baby died? You meant it when you chose her, again and again, over me, over our child

in his eyes. He opened his mouth, then closed it. "Bri

ver me. "Our baby didn' t? I don't recognize you anymore,

anger. "Get out, Aaron. Get out of my sight.

. He walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my

sorrow and barely concealed fury at Aaron's absence. He didn't come. He sent flowers, a sterile white

. The sky was gray, mirroring the landscape of my soul. I knelt, tracin

red, my voice raw. "Mommy's her

apped around my shoulders. "He's in a

even myself. "Maybe he's spared a life with a father who couldn'

eyes filled with a new kin

looking impeccably sad. He walked towards the grave, his gaze fixed on the s

looked at me, his eyes filled with a performative sorrow. "Elinor

. "You want to pay respects to the child

g. But you're being unreasonable. I'm here

at right the moment you walked out of that delivery room, Aaron. You a

n't say that. You're emotional

clear. "And what I'm thinking is that your sorrow is a performance. Yo

sing. "I loved you, Elinor! I still do! This is g

. "There is no 'us,' Aaron. Only you and your promise

s. But then, a flicker of his old arrogance returned. "Elinor, I'm trying to be und

firm. "Not as a husband. Not as a father. And

oised to argue, to defend himself, to continue his charade. But before he could,

as B