Chapter 11

Ethan leaned against the cool, sterile wall of the hospital hallway, the fluorescent lights buzzing above him. His mind was a whirlwind of chaos—Lily’s accusations echoed in his ears, each word piercing through the fog of his thoughts. You killed my child. The weight of those words pressed heavily on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

He closed his eyes, trying to block out the memories of happier times. He remembered the laughter they shared, the dreams they once had, now reduced to ashes. How had it come to this? The pain of their separation felt like a chasm between them, one that seemed impossible to bridge.

“Ethan?” A familiar voice broke through his reverie. He opened his eyes to see Mia approaching, her expression a mixture of concern and anger.

“What have you done?” She spat, her tone sharp. “You hurt her, don’t you?”

Ethan winced at her words, guilt flooding his senses. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen, Mia. I just..."

Mia crossed her arms. "You are an idiot. Go to your mistress now. I am here for her." She said, and entered inside the room.

Ethan stood in silence for a while and then left.

*******

Mia sat in the hospital room, cradling Lily’s head on her shoulder as the soft beeping of the machines filled the silence. Lily’s body shook with sobs, her tears soaking into Mia’s shirt. The weight of her grief was palpable, a heavy shroud that seemed to suffocate the air around them.

“Why did he have to be so cruel?” Lily cried, her voice hoarse. “He killed our child, Mia. He thought it wasn’t his... how could he do that to me?”

Mia stroked Lily’s hair gently, trying to soothe her friend. “Shh, it’s okay. I’m here for you,” she whispered, her heart aching for Lily’s pain. “You’re not alone in this.”

“I thought he would love me,” Lily continued, her voice breaking. “Since childhood, I’ve always loved him. I thought he would change.”

As Lily’s tears fell, memories flooded her mind—memories of a time when life felt simpler, when love was a hopeful dream rather than a source of anguish.

Flashback

Lily was just a child when she first met Ethan Gray. It was a cool autumn afternoon at the neighborhood park, the leaves swirling in vibrant shades of orange and gold. She had been playing on the swings, her laughter ringing through the crisp air, when she spotted him sitting alone on a nearby bench, his dark eyes fixed on the ground.

He was older, maybe a year or two, and there was an air of aloofness about him that intrigued her. She remembered how she had approached him, her small feet crunching the leaves beneath her. “Hi! I’m Lily! Want to play?” she had asked, her voice bright with enthusiasm.

Ethan looked up, his expression cold and indifferent. “No,” he replied flatly, turning away from her.

Lily’s heart sank, but she didn’t give up. She continued to watch him from a distance, hoping that one day he would notice her. Over time, she learned that Ethan was often surrounded by a group of boys who seemed more interested in using him for his family’s wealth than being true friends. She felt a pang of sympathy for him, wishing he could see how special he was beneath the surface.

As the years passed, their paths intertwined more closely. After Lily’s parents died in a tragic accident, the Gray family took her in. Ethan’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gray, treated her like their own daughter, showering her with love and attention.

“Lily, you’re part of our family now,” Mrs. Gray had said, wrapping her arms around Lily in a warm embrace. “We’ll always be here for you.”

In those moments, Lily felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe Ethan would come to love her too. She dedicated herself to caring for him, often standing up for him against the toxic friends who surrounded him. Whenever they belittled him or made fun of his quirks, she would step in, her small frame standing defiantly in front of him.

“Leave him alone!” she would shout, her voice fierce despite her size. “He’s better than all of you!”

Ethan would look at her with a mix of surprise and irritation, but deep down, she knew he appreciated her loyalty.

When Ethan’s parents suggested that she marry Ethan, she was overjoyed. “You really want me to marry him, Uncle?” she had asked, her heart racing.

“Of course,” Mr. Gray had replied. “You are perfect for him.”

In that moment, Lily felt like the luckiest girl in the world. She thought that marrying him would finally make him see her as someone worthy of love. But as their relationship progressed, she realized that Ethan was still battling his demons, struggling with the toxic influences in his life.

“I’m just trying to protect you,” she had told him one night, after he had pushed her away during an argument. “You don’t need those friends. They don’t care about you.”

“They’re my friends!” Ethan had shouted back, frustration etched on his face. “You’re the reason they’re leaving me!”

But Lily knew the truth. Those friends had never cared for Ethan; they only wanted to use him for his money and status. In her heart, she believed she was saving him from them, trying to help him find his way.

Back to the Present

As Lily’s sobs subsided, she pulled back slightly, wiping her tears with trembling hands. “I just wanted to be happy with him, Mia. I thought if I loved him enough, he would change. But now... now I don’t even know who he is anymore.”

Mia looked into Lily’s eyes, seeing the pain and confusion swirling within. “You deserve happiness, Lily. But you can’t force someone to change. You have to take care of yourself first.”

“I hate him for what he did,” Lily admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But a part of me still loves him. How can I feel both things at once?”

“It’s okay to feel conflicted,” Mia reassured her. “Love and hate can coexist, especially when it comes to someone you’ve cared for so deeply.”

Lily leaned back against Mia, the weight of her emotions still pressing down on her. “I just wish things were different. I wish I could go back to when we were kids, when everything felt safe and simple.”

Mia held her tighter, wishing she could take away Lily’s pain. “We can’t go back, but we can move forward. You’re stronger than you think, and I’ll be here every step of the way.”