Chapter One

Ophelia's POV.

“I'm sorry, Mrs. Willow. The test came out negative, you are not pregnant”

The doctor's words came like a sharp blow, settling deep into my stomach.

Not pregnant. Again.

For four years, same results.

My throat tightened and my vision got blurred with tears in no seconds.

“Are you sure, doc?” I asked, voice shaking terribly.

The woman forced a bitter smile to her lips. “We ran the test twice to be sure, but I'm sorry, there's no baby”

I wanted to scream. Ask a god why this is happening to me, but my lips only trembled as I smiled back at the doctor.

“Thank you” I grabbed my bag and turned, walking towards the door and letting a tear slide down my face.

This time, I had hope. I thought the symptoms were clear, so I gave my husband hope.

I walked out of the hospital, barely feeling my skin. Voices sounded distant, my eyes blurred from tears, head spinning.

I should have headed back home but I called Nyla instead.

“Hey, girl!” Nyla’s voice bled through the speaker with excitement. “How's your day going?”

“Bad” My voice cracked through the phone, hesitant and weary. “Very bad”

My friend's voice dropped, becoming silent for a while.

“What happened? Are you fine?” Nyla was suddenly worried. “Where are you? Do you need me to come?”

My head spinned with a headache as I tried to process all her questions at once.

With my lips pressed, I replied. “No, I'll come to you”

After I hanged up, I let out a deep breath. I walked towards my car, getting in and starting the drive to Nyla without hesitation.

Nyla owned a salon across the street and it was not far from the hospital. In a few minutes, I parked.

I walked inside and she was already waiting at the door, her face looking panicked.

She rushed to me and held me by the shoulder, pulling me closer to herself.

“Did something happen?” Nyla asked. “Why do you look so down? Talk to me”

“I had another test today” I glanced at her. “I hoped”

That was enough for her to understand. The hurt in my eyes, my blurred vision, the dried tears on my face…… Nyla understood them all.

She pulled me into a hug, caressing and patting my back at the same time. “I'm so sorry”

“It's fine” I laughed nervously. “I should have gotten used to it by this time”

“Don't say that. It will eventually work out” Nyla said but I don't believe her.

I only smiled. “Can I stay here for a while before I return home? I just need to clear my head”

“Of course,” Nyla replied immediately. “You can stay for as long as you want”

She dragged me to her office, making me take a seat. She wanted to hand me a drink but I requested for only a bottle of water.

Nyla cracked jokes, following me up on social media gists I had missed. With her, I was able to laugh and forget about all my worries.

Hours later, I thanked Nyla for her company and left her salon, heading back to the house to prepare dinner, knowing Erick would soon be back.

But the moment he came back, my heart hammered.

How do I tell him the tests came out negative again?

How do I tell him he isn't expecting a baby?

“Welcome, darling” I helped him with his briefcase while he fumbled with his tie.

“Thanks love” Erick placed kisses on both sides of my cheeks before moving towards the set dining.

I would have chuckled if everything was fine, seeing how he came home hungry.

“Sorry I can't wait” he glanced up at me and smiled. “The aroma just kept invading my nose”

I snorted out a laugh that didn't reach my eyes and joined him at the table.

I watched him cut the steak, staying silent and somewhat hoping he wouldn't ask about my hospital visit today. But maybe I shouldn't have thought about it too, because he probably heard my thoughts.

“How was the test?” Erick’s face was fixed on his food, his knife and fork slicing the steak with little or no strength.

I froze.

For a second, I didn't respond. Two….. Five, nothing but silence.

Erick's knife stopped moving as he paused. “Ophelia?”

I jolted. I watched as he glanced at me then returned his gaze back to his meal.

I swallowed hard and hesitated before responding. “Nothing yet” My voice was low, and I suddenly felt ashamed of myself.

Again, Erick paused. His hands rested on his cutleries but he didn't look at me. His face hardened and his jaws clenched.

Displeasure was evident on his face but it lasted only for a second before he masked it.

He smiled sweetly. “Let's keep hoping, Ophelia. I'm sure we'll have a baby soon”

Tears welled up in my eyes before I could stop them and they threatened so hard to fall when Erick stood up, grabbing his jacket which was draped over the dining chair.

“I'll be working overnight, Ophelia. I only came back home to tell you that” He walked out of the room before I could stop him and my tears fell freely, silent sobs becoming louder.

That was a lie. He was displeased by the news and that's why he's leaving.

I couldn't blame him. He waited for years for me to get pregnant.

My gaze went back to the meal on the table and I watched hours of effort go to waste because of my womb that had refused to pick up a baby.

Pain shot through my chest and my tears intensified, streaming down my eyes. I rushed upstairs, crouching down on the floor of my room and crying terribly.

I spent four years praying for a child, for a miracle… but whoever was up there watching had forsaken me.

I recalled the look on Erick’s face the moment I told him there was nothing yet.

Disgust. Disappointment.

God, why?

My phone buzzed suddenly and my face jolted up, my blurry eyes looking through the screen.

It was Nyla.

My chest tightened as I stared at the screen, realizing that the person comforting me after every heartbreak had never been my husband, but her.