MY EX-HUSBAND REGRET
TER
al At
lights hurt my eyes. I smelled somet
The hospital. Th
, sitting up fast.
one. Did something bad happen
the door opened. A lady
id with a smile. She h
"My baby... please
my forehead. I held
is fine,"
I whispered. I rubbed my belly gently. T
d, stepping back, "th
d. "Wh-what ki
ood. That's not good
eyes. This was a
'll give you some vitamins to he
ded.
eave, I asked, "Wh
e asked us no
ould be. Part of me
turned on the TV. What
en. They were holding hands an
re together, we had to hide. But
s in the air for the hand
cée? No, it co
ce. I couldn't belie
ith some food. "A
eyes. "I
n't hungry. When the nurs
from Mike
ent him a message: "I
I thought about all the good time
felt cold
-
e's
uzzed. It
e divorce," he
Finally,
g anniversary. But I didn't ca
d to rep
our phone forever," Lucy said.
and I had been seeing each other in secret
t love. I couldn
g you, Mike," Lucy sa
ng," I said, cu
eyebrow. "Is
No, I'm not thinking
inked at her. "Le
house was quiet. No one yelled "
I called.
hings were gone. Good, I
n my phone. Why did she call so
p thinking about Clara. Her v
told her about the divorce. Why
r, annoyed. Her voice
I'm you
I'm beg
ut I couldn't stop
-
feeling worse. My head hur
half-hoping to see a mes
heck on me. "How are
by a truck," I sai
doctor will be in soon. T
thought of food
turned on the TV a
ference. He looked happy, confiden
Lucy and I are engaged," Mik
ed. It was real.
w could he do this? How could he
saw me crying. "What's
t not the kin
e of my bed. "Want
er everything. About Mik
id when I finished. "Y
g to do?" I ask
tting better. For yourself and your
ateful for h
face appeared in my doorway
e said softly.
surprised
next to my bed. "Ho
t great. Did yo
found out. I'm so sorry, Cl
asked. "Did yo
se outside Mike's office. I c
Thank you, Tom. I don't know
n't think about that. You
for a while. The
re for you. Whatever you need. You'r
deeply. "Thank you, T
ed back. "Oh, I almost forg
t bag. Inside was a tiny
n my cheeks, but this t
a. Don't ever forget that
st, feeling a tiny spark of h
-
e's
che. Last night's celebration w
saw a missed call from Tom.
ed him
ou doing?" Tom's angry voi
lking about?" I
spital, you idiot!
dropped.
ng on the floor of your offi
ad forgotten
kay?" I asked,
ould you do this, Mike? How could yo
nd," I tried to exp
your excuses. Just know this: you're making a hug
ore I could sa
ead in my hands. Clara was in the
ba
the reality of what
buzzed. I
some! Ready fo
ssage, feeling sic
-
ing to feel a little stronger. Th
e it easy," she warn
d. How could I avoid stress when
was a knock at the door. My heart
t was
king perfect as al
ce sickly sweet. "I heard you wer
for a second. "What
sure you understood the situation. Mike is mine now. He always
t to show it. "If you're so sur
. Stay away from Mike. Don't try to use this
. "Get out," I said, my
" Lucy look
to come in here and threaten me. This is my baby, and Mike's bab
red with anger, b
ne, I collapsed back
in. "I heard yell
g. "Lucy was here. She..
"I'm going to kill my
a deep breath. "No mo
e, confused. "W
I'm done being the victim. Mike made his choice. Now I'm making m
. "That's the Clara I kno
me?" I asked. "I ne
f sadness and hope. My life with Mike w
u and me now, little one," I whispered.
e in days, I actu
-
e's
e wall. Lucy had just left, angry
hinking about Cla
ng in my head: "You're
s
led to Clara's name. My finger
ress it, Lucy burst
nking. We should move up the
eling suddenly very
he looked at m
ime in months. The manipulative smile, the cold e
id, the words tumbling ou
ugly with rage. "
word. "I said, I can't marry you. Thi
Lucy screamed. "After eve
again, and I meant
the door behind her, I felt a
ys. I had to find Clara.
ed it wasn