The Second Goodbye

Evelyn

The first thing I heard was a faint, rhythmic beeping.

Beep… Beep… Beep...

My eyelids felt unbearably heavy, like someone had placed stones over them. Every part of my body felt numb, yet strangely sore at the same time.

I slowly forced my eyes open.

The first thing I saw was the bright white ceiling above me. A soft groan escaped my lips as I blinked repeatedly, trying to adjust to the harsh lights.

Hospital...

The familiar smell of antiseptic filled my nose almost instantly.

I was in a hospital.

"K... Kendall?"

My voice came out weak and hoarse, barely louder than a whisper. Before I could gather my thoughts, the hospital room door slowly opened.

A tall man wearing a white medical coat stepped inside. A nose mask covered the lower half of his face as he quietly closed the door behind him.

He looked toward me and immediately noticed I was awake.

Our eyes met.

I frowned. He wasn't Dr. John.

My heart skipped.

"W-Who are you?" I asked weakly. "And where's Dr. John?"

Instead of answering immediately, the man slowly walked toward my bed. When he reached my bedside, he gently pulled down his nose mask.

His warm eyes softened.

"Evelyn..." The way he said my name was so familiar. "You've finally woken up."

I stared at his face.

For several long seconds, my mind refused to believe what my eyes were seeing.

A surprised gasp escaped my lips.

"Damien?"

His smile immediately widened into the same carefree, boyish grin I remembered from years ago.

"It's Dr. Damien now," he teased lightly.

I couldn't stop staring at him. Years had passed since I'd last seen him.

The playful young boy I once knew had become mature. His features were sharper now, his posture more confident, yet his smile hadn't changed at all. It still carried that same warmth that always made people feel at ease.

"I... I can't believe this..." A tiny, disbelieving laugh escaped my lips. "You're... you're really a doctor now?"

He chuckled softly. "I've been one for quite a while."

I shook my head in amazement.

"So... what are you doing here, and where's Kendall, my friend?"

Damien gently adjusted the blanket over me before answering.

"She was here until not too long ago. She stayed with you for hours, but only left after she was certain your condition had stabilized."

"As for me, I've recently been transferred to this hospital..." His smile slowly faded into a more professional expression. "I'm the consultant obstetrician and gynecologist now overseeing your care."

I blinked. "My... doctor?"

He nodded gently. "From this point forward, I'll be managing your recovery."

Confusion immediately settled over me again.

"But… What about Dr. John? And why was I in so much pain earlier? Why... Why did it hurt so much?"

Damien's expression gradually became serious. The warmth in his smile disappeared completely.

He pulled a chair beside my bed and quietly sat down until we were at eye level.

"You'll no longer feel that pain again because the surgery this time was successful, Evelyn."

I froze. "Surgery?"

My hand immediately pressed against my stomach. Beneath the thin hospital gown, I felt a thick layer of bandages wrapped tightly around my abdomen.

I stared at him in disbelief.

"What surgery again? I... I already miscarried a few days ago. I don't understand."

Damien remained silent for several seconds, giving me time to process everything before speaking.

Finally, he looked directly into my eyes.

"What happened today, Evelyn, is an incredibly rare and complex medical condition called a heterotopic pregnancy."

The unfamiliar term left me completely confused.

"Hetero... what now?"

He spoke gently, carefully choosing words he knew I could understand.

"To put it simply... You were pregnant with twins."

Everything around me suddenly became silent.

Twins.

The single word echoed endlessly inside my head.

Twins?

My lips trembled.

"No..." I whispered. "That's impossible. Dr. John examined me. He performed ultrasounds, and checked everything."

Damien slowly nodded.

"I understand why you're confused. Anyone would be. Heterotopic pregnancies are among the rarest conditions we encounter in obstetrics."

I remained completely still while he continued explaining patiently.

"Your previous ultrasound clearly showed a pregnancy inside your uterus. In almost every case, once doctors confirm a pregnancy inside the uterus, it also confirms that it isn't an ectopic pregnancy. So after your miscarriage, everything pointed toward a normal pregnancy loss. There was no reason to suspect another pregnancy elsewhere."

He paused briefly.

"But the second embryo had implanted deep inside your fallopian tube. It was extremely small, and remained hidden. And because you had already suffered a miscarriage, the pain you experienced masked the symptoms of the ectopic pregnancy. It wasn't until today, when the pregnancy ruptured your fallopian tube, that anyone could have discovered it."

My entire world tilted.

Twins… I had carried twins. Not one child… Two… and I had lost them both.

I slowly turned my head toward the window as a tear slipped quietly down my cheek.

Two babies. Two tiny lives had once existed inside me, and not even one refused to stay to call me "Mom."

My shoulders began trembling uncontrollably as fresh tears soaked the pillow beneath my head.

It hurt. It hurt so much that I felt like someone had ripped my heart completely out of my chest.

God, why was I so unlucky?

Damien gently reached over and held my hand.

"I'm so sorry, Evelyn," he muttered sadly. "I went through every one of your medical records. I know how much you've endured over these past few years."

His thumb gently rubbed across the back of my hand.

"No one should have to go through this, but I promise you I'll do everything I can to help you recover."

He gave my hand another reassuring squeeze.

"The damaged tube had to be removed, but your other fallopian tube and uterus are completely healthy. Your fertility remains intact, so there is still hope."

Hope… That word again.

How many times had I heard it over and over again? Year after year… those same words and promises… Yet it all resulted in the same ending.

Looking at Damien, I gave a weak shake of my head.

"I'm tired… So tired." More tears rolled down my face as I forced a painful smile.

"Please, don't tell me things just to make me feel better. I don't think I can survive another disappointment."

Damien didn't let go of my hand. Instead, he held it even tighter; his eyes never left mine.

"I'm not trying to comfort you with empty words. I'm telling you the truth. I really will do everything within my power to help you… trust me."

He slowly reached up and gently wiped the tears from my cheeks as a small smile appeared on his face.

"The Evelyn I knew years ago was always optimistic, fearless, strong… beautiful." He chuckled softly. "And unbelievably stubborn."

Despite everything, a faint, sad smile found its way onto my lips.

I looked down at myself, at the hospital gown, the fat body, the pale skin… The body that had failed again.

"The Evelyn you knew doesn't exist anymore." I swallowed painfully as my voice trembled. "This Evelyn is just an ugly, fat woman that can't carry her own children."

The words tasted bitter coming out of my mouth, but they were exactly how I saw myself.

Damien immediately frowned as he leaned slightly forward.

"Never say that again. Do you hear me? All I see is a beautiful woman who has fought battles that most people couldn't even imagine."

"You've endured pain that would have broken many others, and suffered unimaginable losses. And despite all of that… You're still here."

He smiled softly.

"That isn't weakness… That's courage. One terrible chapter doesn't decide the rest of your story. I still believe you'll smile the way you used to. I still believe you'll find yourself again. And until that day comes… You don't have to fight alone."

By the time he finished speaking, my vision had completely blurred as more tears flowed freely down my cheeks.

Not because his words hurt. But because these were the words I had desperately longed to hear for years from Adrian.

From my husband.

The man who had promised to love me through everything.

The man whose child I had tried so desperately to give.

The man whose approval I had spent years chasing.

I had wanted him to tell me I was still beautiful, and still enough. I had wanted him to hold my hand and tell me that none of this was my fault. To remind me that I wasn't fighting alone.

Instead… These words were coming from Damien. Someone who hadn't even been part of my life during the years I endured all the pain and loss… yet still understood.

The realization completely shattered the fragile wall I had been holding together as a broken sob escaped my lips.

Before I knew it, I was crying uncontrollably.

Damien immediately stood up. Without hesitation, he carefully sat beside me on the hospital bed and gently pulled me into his arms.

"It's okay..." he whispered softly. "You don't have to hold everything inside anymore. You've been strong for far too long. It's okay to cry."

I buried my face against his shoulder. Years of pain poured out through my tears. His words kept echoing in my head, making me cry even harder.

Gradually, my sobs began to fade, and my breathing slowly steadied.

Still resting in Damien's comforting embrace, I closed my eyes as he continued gently stroking my hair.

The room became quiet… Until the hospital room door suddenly burst open, and a thunderous, familiar voice exploded across the room.

"What the hell is going on here?"

My entire body stiffened as my eyes flew open instantly. I turned toward the doorway, and the color completely drained from my face.

Adrian.

He stood frozen at the entrance, his eyes blazing with anger as they landed on Damien holding me in his arms.