3. Room 404

Sophie 

"We're sorry, Miss Sophie Jameson… we tried everything we could. Unfortunately, you lost the baby due to intense stress and shock" 

The doctors said to me when I woke up.

I felt that sharp ringing in my ears.

"No no no please..." I gushed out desperately. "I can't loose my baby. Please do something..." 

I cried in pain as I grabbed the hem of the doctor's coat. "Please do something..."

"We're sorry...we've tried everything..." the doctor said in a resigned tone. 

It didn’t feel real.

I screamed like I'd gone crazy. How could I lose my husband and my child in one day?

I cried so much until I passed out.

The doctors kept me for days. Said they needed to check my vitals and monitor my progress. 

My best friends Vanessa and Nicole visited.

My mom came too. Cried with me and for me.

But Ryan — the man who once claimed to love me, the man whose child I'd miscarried — never showed up. Not even once.

The heartbreak was all I remembered whenever I woke up, then I'd cry until exhaustion dragged me back to sleep.

Few days later, I was discharged, I felt hollow. Like someone had scooped out my insides and left a shell behind.

Vanessa and Nicole came to get me.

Nicole stormed into the room first. “I swear I'm going to kill him. I will actually kill him.”

Nicole and Vanessa had been my best friends since college. Nicole had always been the hothead, getting into fights and warding off our bullies but Vanessa was the total opposite. She was the voice of reason between us all.

Vanessa followed behind her, calmer but still angry. “The asshole didn't visit for once?.”

"I just can't believe this" Nicole seethed. "He's the reason you lost your child and he didn’t even care to know how you're doing?"

They were angry for me because they knew I didn’t have the strength to be angry anymore. I'd exhausted all the rage, sadness and grief I had left, these past few days; now, all I wanted to do was move on.

"It's okay guys" I said dryly. "Please just get me out of here"

We were about to leave but first we stopped at the hospital counter to sign out.

"Are you Mrs Sophie Jameson?" The receptionist asked. 

"Yes" I replied and she handed me a brown envelope. 

"This package came in for you this morning" she said as I opened it.

My heart sank in my stomach when I saw what was in the envelope. 

Divorce papers. 

Nicole snatched them from me. “Ryan sent divorce papers? To the hospital?”

Vanessa’s face hardened. “He’s unbelievable.”

Nicole’s voice dropped dangerously low. “Say the word, Sophie. I’ll send people to deal with him.”

"Leave it" I said, tired. "Our marriage is over and there's no point in doing that"

"I'm super tired and I just want to sleep" I said.

Nicole and Vanessa exchanged mischievous glances, like they knew something they weren't letting me in on.

"Uhh...we have a better idea " said Nicole. "How about we go out and get wasted on your favorite drink and in our favorite hotel—Emerald"

I rolled my eyes. This was the last thing I wanted. But my friends were pretty persuasive. 

"She's right "  Vanessa added. "You know we aren't going to let you go home and cry over Ryan until you fall asleep"

They knew me so well. 

"I'm not doing that..." I told a feeble lie. "I'm going to sleep the moment I get home..."

"Just let us take you out, Soph" Vanessa coaxed. "Trust me, it's a better idea than going home...and Nicole has a surprise for you"

I knew I had no way out of this. Not when I had friends like Nicole and Vanessa who always made sure things went their way. 

"For two months, you weren’t allowed to drink your precious Grey Goose vodka dirty martini" Nicole chipped in. "Tonight? We fix that."

Despite everything, a tiny ghost of a smile touched my lips. They knew how much I loved that drink.

"You guys are crazy," I whispered, trying to hide how much the idea pleased me.

"And you love us for it," Nicole shot back.

"Okay...let's go" I finally said and they drove me to our favorite hotel — Emerald.

My heart skipped when I got in. I hadn’t been here in months.

Inside, a calm music played. I heard the sound of light laughter and glasses clinking and I felt out of place. 

But my friends noticed and began ordering shots.

“Just one drink,” I said when Nicole offered me the first glass. 

The burn of alcohol down my throat felt like something cleansing. My muscles began to loosen. The tight knot in my chest softened. The thoughts of Ryan—his voice, his indifference, his cruelty—started to blur.

For the first time in days, my mind wasn’t replaying the moment I caught him cheating.

Before I knew it, one shot turned into three.

Then seven. I felt lighter. 

Nicole leaned close. “Are you feeling better now?”

I exhaled slowly. “A little.”

Vanessa smiled. “Good because that’s what tonight is for.”

Nicole grinned mischievously. “But that’s not the final surprise.”

I blinked at her. “What do you mean, Nicole?” I asked, tipsy. "I'm not ready for any surprises..."

She slipped something into my palm while I spoke. 

I looked down. It was a key card with room 404 inscribed on it.

My eyes widened. “What is this for?”

Vanessa held back an amused grin.

Nicole leaned in dramatically. “Let’s just say… someone is waiting for you in that room.”

My cheeks heated instantly. 

No way! Nicole hadn't!

"Don't tell me you hired a gigolo..." I asked, half shocked and half amused despite myself.

“I sure did.”

“I can’t believe you,” I muttered, staring at the key card.

Vanessa squeezed my hand gently. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. But maybe… one night of not thinking about Ryan might help.”

I stared at the elevator across the lobby in hesitation.

Maybe my friends were right. 

It would just be one reckless, thoughtless night to feel desired by a stranger...to temporarily forget everything.

I gulped down another shot and stood up. 

"Go girl!" Nicole cheered. 

Clutching the key card, I walked toward the elevator, my pulse racing as it took me to the fourth floor.

Drunk enough to be brave, I went straight to room 404.