Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

114. The wait

I stare at the doctor as if I’m a damn idiot who can’t comprehend what he just said. In my defense, his words didn’t register wholly with me. He was asking me to choose between Ava and her baby. Does he know how difficult that is?

“Mr. Woods, time is of the essence. We need to know your decision,” he all but begs.

I open my mouth, but no words come out. I try again, and the same thing fucking happens.

“Mr. Woods?” the nurse calls, concern in her voice.

“The baby,” Letty’s soft voice suddenly says, breaking the silence. “Save the baby, if it comes down to it.”

The doctor and nurse nod their heads before rushing back to the ER. I turn to face Letty with mixed feelings waging war inside me.

My look must have communicated something because she hardens her eyes in defiance before speaking.

“Don’t look at me like that, Rowan. This is what Ava would have wanted,” she says through gritted teeth.

Corrine comes to the defense of her friend.

“She’s right. Ava would have picked her baby over herself any day, any time. If we picked her over the child, she would have hated us.

I deflate after she voices what I was thinking just a few minutes ago. I know she’s right, but that doesn’t take away the heaviness I feel in my heart.

I would never wish her baby harm. All I pray right now is that it doesn’t come down to that. I hope that

both of them make it. Ava deserves to know happiness, and her baby deserves to live.

I resume my seat and wait. It killed me to wait, but what choice do I have? I’m not a doctor, so I can’t

really help her. All I can do is continue praying.

I don’t remember the last time I prayed. Probably when I was still a kid in Sunday school. Right now, I’m willing to pray to anyone who’ll listen and answer my request. If it was possible to trade places with her,

would have gladly done so, even if it meant

I would sacrifice everything I have right now just to see her scowling or glaring at me. I would give up the world to reverse what happened

“It’s my fault.”

turn towards the voice

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I got her missed call, I told myself I’d call

her into his arms as she continues

Letty. You

asked her if we could postpone. If only I’d gone with her. Maybe I could have done something to prevent her from getting hurt.” She had

for their friend shining through their eyes. They haven’t known each other for long, but their bond

The only one responsible is the bastard that hurt,” Kate tells them in a

the blame game right now won’t help. We need to focus on Ava and

prayers for them,” my mom

just focus on the emergency room, waiting for someone to

killing me. The waiting. The worrying.

That she and the

for a silver lining. For a kind of miracle. My heart and

death to stay away. Their souls weren’t his to claim. Not

when they’ve both barely begun

see the glass wall in front of her?” Letty

smile.

chuckles. “Yeah. She hit it right in the face before she

but she couldn’t stop

laughed, and some of the others chuckled. There was just something

gritted my teeth and forced

her talking about how cute he is. We tried signaling to her

until the man

on her face.

us to leave because

2/3

place again,”

+15 BONUS

was probably lost in memory lane. For the others, there probably weren’t any good

of them.