Since Raymond was so fond of Victoria, I might as well let them have each other. I had to divorce him! I had to! This life was simply unbearable!
I touched my still-flat stomach, feeling a pang of sorrow. I said to my unborn child, “Sweetheart, I’m sorry, but I can’t let you come into this world to suffer.”
My stomach was painfully empty and cramping in waves. After searching every corner, I found nothing to eat.
Feeling the three dollars left in my pocket, I gritted my teeth and went out. I walked unsteadily to the supermarket and bought discounted, nearly expired food.
Taking a fierce bite, the flavors spread through my mouth, yet the food tasted incredibly bitter to me. Though my family in the countryside was not wealthy, we could at least afford meat daily. How had life with Raymond become worse than living through a famine?
With the little food in my stomach, I finally had some strength. I touched my still-flat belly again, feeling a twinge of pain.
Nevertheless, I walked with determination to the hospital. When I told the doctor I wanted an abortion, his eyes flashed with hesitation behind his glasses. “Are you sure? Does the father agree?”
Not getting a reaction from me, the doctor paused, his expression growing sympathetic. Perhaps feeling sorry for me, he softened his tone as he asked, “Have you thought this through? This is a life, after all.”
I nodded numbly.
