Walking away

Harriet's point of view 

The world came back in pieces. My lashes felt heavy when I forced them open. 

“How is she?”

My fingers curled slightly against the sheets when I heard Randy's voice.

“She’s out of danger,” the doctor replied calmly.

“Out of danger?” Elena scoffed, her voice sharp with disdain. 

“Of course she is, always the drama queen. I bet no one pushed her. She probably threw herself down those stairs just to gain sympathy.”

My chest tightened.

“To make my son take her back,” she added. “Pathetic.”

I said nothing, did nothing, even breathing felt like too much effort.

“There’s something else,” the doctor continued, her tone shifting to something softer.“We… couldn’t save the baby.”

Heavy silence passed for a second.

“What baby?”Randy’s voice snapped through the room.

“She wasn’t pregnant.”

A broken laugh slipped out of me. His head turned toward me so fast I felt it without looking.

“You were pregnant?” he demanded, his face forming a deep frown.

“And you didn’t tell me?”

“Tell you?” I repeated faintly. My eyes met his. “I tried,” I said.

His jaw tightened, his expression darkened, “then it's for the best… I would hate my child looking anything like you!” he said without any hesitation, and with that, he turned and walked out.

Elena clicked her tongue. “See?” she muttered. “Even God knows who deserves blessings and who doesn’t.”

Her cold and condemning gaze dragged over me.“That child was never meant for you.”

Something inside me twisted, but I didn’t react, didn’t give her the satisfaction.

She scoffed again and turned on her heel, her voice still carrying the venom in her soul as she walked out.

“Good riddance, one less disgrace tied to this family.”

The door shut behind her. For a few seconds, I just lay there, listening to nothing, then the doctor moved closer. I didn’t look at her immediately, I just took a slow breath and pushed myself up. My muscles protested as I sat up, but I ignored it, stretching slightly, I smiled.

“Finally,” I murmured.

“Harriet!” The doctor dropped all pretense instantly, her composure cracking as she rushed forward and pulled me into a tight hug.

I let out a small laugh, hugging her back.

“It’s been ages,” she said, pulling away to look at me properly before dragging a chair closer and sitting down. “You look… alive, to say the least.”

I exhaled softly. 

“Thanks,” I said. My hand moved instinctively to my stomach, resting there. “For saving… us…and for keeping it between us.”

She waved it off immediately.

“Please, that’s nothing,” she said. “It’s a good thing you woke up earlier and told me everything. I never liked that man…or his mother. I still can’t believe they put you through all that.”

“And worse,” I added quietly. The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Then I went silent.

Doctor Ama leaned forward, her expression softening.

“Hey,” she said gently. “You don’t have to think about it right now,” her hand covered mine. “You did the right thing choosing yourself and your baby.”

Her face lit up suddenly. “I’m going to be a godmother soon…,” she squealed.

I laughed.. really laughed this time, it felt strange, but not bad.

**********

Three hours later, I was sitting in Linda’s car.

The city lights slid past the window in blurred streaks, but I wasn’t really seeing them.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t come earlier,” Linda said, her voice tight with guilt. “I would have been there if I knew….”

“It’s okay,” I cut in quietly. “And I’m the one who should be sorry. I dragged you out on your day off.”

“It’s fine,” she said quickly. “You know I’d come for you anytime.”

I nodded, my mind drifting to emptiness again. 

“I still can’t believe him,” she muttered. “Randy, married to someone like you and still clinging to his past like it’s the only thing that matters.”

Her voice sharpened, her grip on the steering wheel tightened.

“Honestly, it’s disgusting.”

I stayed quiet, her anger burned hot, I didn’t have the energy to match it.

“I’m serious, Harriet,” she continued, her voice rising. “They just get to pick up where they left off, like nothing happened, and you’re supposed to just… disappear?”

Her jaw clenched.

“How is that fair? How is that convenient for them?”

Still, I said nothing.

“And that Sienna,” she scoffed. “Come on. You should go head-to-head with her. Don’t just let her take everything.”

“And what would that accomplish?” I asked calmly.

She glanced at me.

“Announce to the world that I’m the woman who got thrown aside?”

Linda’s lips parted slightly, she didn’t answer immediately.

“But they’re getting off too easily,” she insisted.

“They’re not,” my voice was steady, too steady that she shot me a look.

“What are you thinking?”

I exhaled softly, my gaze drifting back to the window.

“For now, I just want to be Harriet, I'm not anyone’s accessory anymore,” I said quietly. “And I never will be again.”

Linda didn’t respond, her eyes returned to the road as silence filled the car again.

“Did you really lose the baby?” Linda asked after a while.

My head turned slowly.

“Who told you that?” My voice came out sharp, Linda shifted slightly in her seat, her fingers tightened on the wheel, then loosened, then tightened again.

“I… overheard it,” she said.

“From who?” I asked, not looking away.

She let out a small, awkward laugh.

“You know how these things spread…”

“Linda.” 

She swallowed, her knuckles paling as her shoulders stiffened.

For a second, she didn’t speak.

“Randy had been drinking,” she said finally.

“He locked himself in his office, wouldn’t let anyone in… not even Sienna.”

My brows drew together slightly.

“And?” I pressed.

Linda hesitated for a second, then added;

“I heard her talking to Mark,” she said. “That’s how I found out.”

I fixed my eyes on her, watching her carefully, something was wrong, I could feel it. 

The way her hands were tightly clamped around the wheel, the way her gaze stayed fixed ahead, avoiding mine didn't sit well in my stomach.

“Linda,” I said softly, “I just want to forget everything.”

She nodded quickly, “yeah… yeah, of course.”

I continued to look at her, and her eyes avoided min like I suddenly just grew a second head.

“Drop me at the next station,” I said quietly.

Her head turned toward me instantly.

“What? I thought you were coming to my place.”

“I need to see someone,” I responded calmly, though my heart was pounding.

“Who?” she asked, almost immediately. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“No,” the word came out sharper than I intended…I exhaled softly.

“I’ll be fine,” I added. “I’ll call you when I’m done.”

Linda hesitated before nodding.

The car slowed, then stopped. I stepped out with my bag, didn’t look back, but I could feel her eyes, following me.

I didn’t go toward the main entrance, instead, I took a different turn, around tthe side, through a quieter corridor.

My steps slowed slightly at the entrance, my eyes staring at the door right in front of me..My hand hovered, my fingers curled slightly, uncurled, then curled again.

Come on Harriet, you have faced worse than this today, a quiet voice echoed in my head, still, my heart beat just a little faster as I raised my hand to knock.

My fingers moved to the handle, paused, then turned it. The door opened, I stepped in, and froze.

Eight pairs of eyes turned toward me, all at once, the room went silent.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. My throat tightened.

“I…” my voice failed me, the silence stretched. “I’m divorced,” the words barely made it out. “I’m Free,” I whispered.