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,

so, even if it

live her life, then I would do it. I would sacrifice everything I have right now just to see her

“It’s my fault.”

the voice to find Letty silently

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call, I told myself I’d call her after i got out of work. I should have just

his arms as she

your fault, Letty. You

call. She wanted us to go shopping, but I was busy, so I asked her if we could postpone. If only I’d gone with her. Maybe

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

have predicted something like this happening, so don’t blame yourself. The only one responsible is the bastard that

help. We need to focus

best prayers for them,” my

say anything. I just focus on the emergency room, waiting for someone to come

This was killing me. The waiting. The worrying. The uncertainty. I just need someone

is going to be okay. That she and the baby were out of danger. That they will

lining. For a kind of miracle. My heart

weren’t his to claim. Not now. It wasn’t their time

it be when they’ve

she didn’t see the glass wall in front of her?” Letty says

smile.

it right in the face before she

so embarrassed, but she couldn’t stop laughing

and some of the others chuckled. There was just something about

my teeth and

hot waiter caught her talking about how cute he is. We tried signaling to her that

get it, not until the man cleared his voice,” Corrine says with

on her face.

because she couldn’t face him after that.” Letty adds.

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place again,”

+15 BONUS

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

of them.