The One Who Waited

At 2 a.m., Irina Charlton woke up from sharp pains in her lower abdomen. When she reached over to feel the icy sheets beside her, she realized her husband, Uriah Parker, had not come home.

The pain was worsening by the second. With trembling hands, she called Uriah. It rang for what felt like forever before someone finally picked up.

Before Irina could even say a word, a young woman's voice came through the speaker. "Irina, Uriah's already asleep. Whatever it is, just call him tomorrow, okay? I'm hanging up now."

"Wait, hold on..."

The sharp, twisting pain in her lower abdomen made every word an agony for Irina.

The woman ignored Irina and simply hung up the phone.

When Irina tried calling again, the phone was already turned off. She gasped for air as waves of pain crashed through her body, making her shake uncontrollably, and tears streamed down her face.

She did not want to die. After all, she was only 26 years old, and she still had her parents and Uriah.

Forcing herself to stay conscious, Irina dialed 911. Then, she crawled to the living room and unlocked the front door. Just before she passed out, she heard the wail of an ambulance echoing through the entire apartment complex.

The doctor's preliminary diagnosis was an ectopic pregnancy, and Irina needed surgery immediately. They needed to contact her family, but Uriah's phone was still unreachable.

"Do you have any other relatives or friends we can call?" the young nurse asked, looking at Irina with sympathy as she lay pale-faced on the hospital bed.

Irina gave a bitter smile and shook her head. Her parents were not in Sterling City. Even if they caught the earliest flight, they would not arrive until tomorrow afternoon. Besides, her mother, Linda Bailey, had a weak heart and could not handle the shock.

While her best friend, Mia Somerset, lived in the city, she was already in her final weeks of pregnancy and could go into labor any time soon. Irina really did not want to burden her.

She said, "I can manage it myself."

The surgery was performed overnight. When Irina woke up, it was already the next morning.

The caregiver, Anne Davis, saw Irina stirring and quickly poured some warm water for her.

"Ms. Charlton, you're finally awake. You have no idea how critical your condition was. The doctor said the location of your ectopic pregnancy was extremely dangerous. If the surgery had been any later, they might not have been able to save you."

Irina touched her lower abdomen, feeling both regretful and heartbroken. She and Uriah had been trying for a baby for two years. Yet, when she finally got pregnant, it turned out to be ectopic.

Irina gripped her phone as tears rolled down her cheeks. A whole night had passed, yet Uriah had not called once, not even a single text.

Nonetheless, the baby was gone, and the baby's father should know. So, Irina dialed Uriah's number.

This time, Uriah himself actually answered.

"Honey, I..."

"Irina, I know I've been neglecting you lately, but I'm really exhausted. Ms. White had a rejection episode yesterday, and she's in really bad shape. Also, there's nothing going on between Sophie and me. She's like my little sister, and she could never threaten your position as Mrs. Parker. Please, can you stop making a scene?"

Uriah's voice was filled with impatience.

Irina held the phone, momentarily at a loss for words.

After a few seconds of silence, Uriah spoke again. "Well? Say something, Irina."

"I-I had an ectopic..."

Before Irina could finish her sentence, she heard Sophie Lyons' anxious, tearful voice coming through the phone.

"Uriah, my mom needs you!"

"Let's talk later."

Just like that, the call ended.

Irina stared at the ceiling. Her eyes, already red from crying, flooded with tears all over again.

She and Uriah had been together for almost eight years. They got to know each other in their senior year of high school, endured four years of long distance through college, and finally got married two years ago, promising to work together to welcome a baby into their lives.

All of a sudden, after his childhood sweetheart and so-called little sister had only been back for three months, Irina became nothing more than an unreasonable, jealous wife in his eyes.

A laugh escaped Irina. She covered her eyes with her hands, laughing and crying at the same time.