My loss

Elaine’s POV

I stood outside the gigantic Wayne Villa, the tall building hovered above me, swallowing my tiny frame. Guests flocked in numbers; it was the Waynes’ Family annual charity Gala.

Due to everything that had been happening the past few days, I had completely forgotten about it. I had only gotten a reminder email that morning about the gala.

Gary had barely been around; his excuse this time was that he had a deal he needed to close. I stood outside holding the bouquet in my hand.

“Why don’t you come in?” Mr & Mrs Wayne approached me.

Mr Wayne had the most genuine smile on his face, unlike Mrs Wayne, who couldn’t hide the scowl on her face.

“Where is my son? Didn’t you remind him of the Gala?” She hissed.

“He… he… will be late.” I finally said, the flowers trembled in my hands.

“You really do not know how to be of use to your husband. How about an heir?”

“Why don’t you let the poor girl rest?” Mr Wayne said calmly.

Mrs Wayne had always had something against me. She has opposed Gary and me getting married, but only agreed because it was beneficial to their business.

“So useless. You can’t even produce an heir.” She hissed and walked away. Her heels clicked on the marble floor.

My hands instinctively moved to my belly as I shielded it from her bad words. I didn’t want my baby to hear such bad words.

“You know how feisty she is. She didn’t mean any of that.” Mr Wayne said as he rubbed my arm.

“Here.” I handed the bouquet to him.

He was the only one who had stood by me in the family.  He could have easily passed off as my father.

The rest of the party seemed to be going quietly until whispers began.

“Isn’t she the barren daughter-in-law of the Wayne family?”

“I heard her husband is having an affair with another woman.”

“How can she still smile and be in public, knowing fully her husband is in love with another woman?”

I shook my head vehemently as I tried to distract myself from everyone. I immediately regretted not having allowed Laura to come with me to the event.

“Elaine.” Gary walked to me, smiling.

“You are late. Your mum was furious.” I said as he placed a kiss on my cheek.

“The meeting ran late. I have a surprise for you,” he brought out a box from his pocket.

Was this his way of apologizing for everything? Was this him trying to make things work between us? I took it happily as I hurriedly opened it.

It was a diamond necklace. I had told him how much I wanted it a few months back when we had visited a store.

“I love this so much, Gary… “I turned around as he wore it on my bare neck.

I ran my fingers through it, finally happy that things were coming around in my marriage.

“You deserve the best, Elaine.” The sincerity in his eyes lasted only a second.

“Elaine!” Anyone would have believed she was genuinely happy to see me, or that we were good friends.

She hurriedly placed a kiss on my cheek as she hugged me.

“I’m sorry about the accident the other time. Gary didn’t mean to protect me; it just happened.”

I could tell she was trying to hurt me by bringing up the incident. I stood tall, unwavering.

“It’s fine, Elizabeth. Gary already apologized with this… beautiful diamond necklace.” I said as I linked my arm to Gary’s.

Her smile suddenly cracked as she looked at Gary with a look of disbelief.

The view from the top of the hall looked great. Gary had gone to get us a glass of wine. I was finally going to tell him he would be a father. I could only imagine the excitement on his face as I waited patiently.

“Who do you think Gary will run to save between the two of us?” Elizabeth asked as she joined me.

“You are finally showing your true colors.” I hissed and stood to walk away as I saw Gary coming towards the stairs with two glasses of wine.

“I guess we will find out,” Elizabeth said as she put her foot forward, tripping me and sending me tumbling down the stairs. She pushed herself down with me.

The hall suddenly went quiet as we both lay below the stairs. Elizabeth had barely fallen, while I, on the other hand, felt pain shooting up my tailbone.

“Elizabeth!!” Gary dropped the wine glasses as he rushed to her.

It felt like our wedding anniversary night all over again, but this time, people gathered as they witnessed the last straw of my marriage breaking.

“Gary… Our…ba…” I tried to speak, but the pain hit me hard, sending shocking waves through my whole body. I quietly watched as Gary scooped Elizabeth up in his arms. He screamed for people to make way.

I lay bloody on the floor, waiting for the paramedics to arrive. Gary looked back at me, his face flushed with worry, but not for me.

“Somebody call 911 for her.” He said before rushing off.

I watched him as my eyes slowly closed, carrying Elizabeth out of the hall. She looked towards me from across his shoulder, and I could see the smile on her face.

The smile of victory. Gary had chosen her. Again.

With blood pouring out of me, I could feel something in me dying along with it.

***

This time, waking up in the hospital didn’t scare me. The doctor and some nurses were standing with sullen faces. My dad was sitting next to me.

“Elaine, baby, you need to be strong, okay,” he pushed my head down as I tried to get up. His face was tear-stained.

I had never known my dad to cry; he had only cried the day my mother had died when I was 8. That day had broken something in him, but he had only stayed strong for me.

“You need to rest, ma’am. I’m sorry, but you lost your baby.”

I felt a ringing in my head as the doctor broke the news to me. I didn’t cry. I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t speak.

The pain in my heart sent chills down my spine. My mouth wouldn’t open even to speak.

I knew then that something more had gone along with my baby. Gary had abandoned me, and I had lost my baby.