Chapter 22


    it was m


    child. He must have searched the heavens far and wide before choosing me to be his mom. And


    here I was, wrestling with the decision to keep him.


    Christine gently cleaned my tears, embracing me with a warmth she seldom showed in public. “Why


    the tears? Your baby’s doing just fine, very well-behaved and tough.”


    “Really?” I asked in surprise.


    “Of course, it’s true. Don’t you believe me? Ask the nurse,” Christine said.


    The nurse, who hade in with her, chuckled helplessly. “Don’t just worry about the baby. You hit


    your head, and though we’ve bandaged the cut on your forehead, we haven’t done a CT scan


    because of the pregnancy. How do you feel now? Any severe dizziness?”


    “I’m okay.” I nodded, feeling only slightly woozy


    “That’s good. Once you finish with the IV, you can go home to rest. Juste back to the hospital if


    you feel unwell.” While patting my shoulder reassuringly, the nurse added, “Just take care of


    yourself. That’s the best way to look after your baby.”


    With that, she left.


    When hearing that, my tense nerves finally rxed, and I hugged Christine, my whimpers low,


    crying out all my grievances and frustrations.


    Eventually, as my emotions steadied, Christine let go of me, pulled a chair, and sat beside.


    1.


    She looked visibly shaken. “You scared the hell out of me, you know? Weren’t you supposed to take


    Bryant to the cemetery today? Why were you alone in the car? Where’s Bryant?


    If the hospital hadn’t called your emergency contact while I was on the phone with you. you’d be


    here all alone, and nobody would have known if something happened!


    I saw the dashcam footage. You could’ve easily avoided that car with your reflexes, but you didn’t.


    What were you thinking? You could ye killed yourself.”


    Christine’s voice rose with each word, her eyes reddening, turning away to clean her tears. clearly


    frightened by the ordeal.


    I wanted to calm her down, to assure her I was okay But all I could muster was a faint, “Chris, I’ve


    made up my mind.”


    Christine looked at me, puzzled “What?”


    “I want a divorce” I exhaled deeply, feeling a sense of relief I hadn’t felt in weeks, “It’s over between


    me and Bryant.”


    Are


    Christine stared at me in disbelief before finally speaking, you sure about this?”


    I replied affirmatively, “Yeah.”


    It had been seven years. Seven years of genuine affection wasted on someone who never showed


    the slightest concern, not even once. It wasughable how I envied Margaret every time Bryant lost


    his temper with her.


    It was just too pitiful.


    And I know, deep down, he would get stirred by Margaret all the time. If I didn’te to my senses


    today, he would eventually. So, why demean myself any further?


    Christine suddenly raised an eyebrow. “Talk about a silver lining. A car ident knocked. some


    sense into you. I should’ve gotten you into one sooner.”


    “What about the baby? Does he know about the baby?” Christine began to ponder the logistics of


    the divorce.


    Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    “He doesn’t know.” A bitter smile yed on my lips as I replied, “I was nning to tell him today.”