Muddy
On the very first day of our marriage, Jasper Clarke, a renowned gynecologist, laid down his terms.
"My time can mean life or death for my patients. You can't afford to waste it. I may not be able to be there for you day to day, but I'll set aside half a day every month just for you. That's the most I can offer."
I understood how demanding his job was, so I nodded and agreed.
From then on, I ate alone, went to doctor's appointments alone, and spent my days in an empty house. I never once disturbed Jasper.
That changed in my third month of pregnancy, when I began showing signs of a threatened miscarriage.
For the first time, I booked a specialist appointment with Jasper.
The moment I pushed open the door to his office, his smile froze. "What are you doing here? Get out! Don't take up a spot another patient needs!"
Before I could say a word, he called in the next patient.
A young pregnant woman walked in behind me, carrying a bouquet of white jasmine. She sat down beside Jasper.
As the door closed, I saw him stand up, his left hand resting at her waist and his right hand covering hers as he took the bouquet.
I waited outside for four hours, but Jasper never called in another patient.
A nurse came over to inform me. "Ms. Wells is Dr. Clarke's VIP patient. He saves every Wednesday for her. If you're not feeling well, I can help you make an appointment with another doctor."
My phone lit up with a calendar reminder.
The half-day I had been looking forward to all month would be over in five minutes.
My hand stilled against my lower abdomen. Suddenly, I could not feel the pain anymore.
After a long moment of silence, I spoke softly. "I'd like to schedule an abortion."