Happiness never lasted long. At least, that’s what life had taught me. Cole and I had just returned from our honeymoon, our bags barely unpacked, when my phone buzzed with an unknown number. l’ignored it at first, too lost in the warmth of our new beginning.
But then, it buzzed again. And again. Something in my chest tightened.
With a sigh, I reached for my phone, swiping to answer. “Hello?“}
A hesitant voice responded, “Ms. Evelyne?“”
“Yes, speaking.”
“This is St. Vincent Hospital. We have a patient here named Julienne. She listed you as her emergency contact.”
I froze. Julienne.
“What happened?” My voice came out sharper than intended, but panic was already settling deep in my bones.”
“She was admitted earlier today,” the nurse explained. “Her condition is related to her kidney. We believe she’s experiencing organ complications. It would be best if you came as soon as possible.“}
I didn’t hesitate.
“Send me the details. I’m on my way.”
The drive was a blur. Cole didn’t even ask questions–he just grabbed the car keys and drove, his hand gripping mine the entire way.
By the time we arrived, the sterile scent of the hospital hit me like a wave. The beeping of machines, the muffled voices of doctors–it all felt too familiar, too suffocating.”
I found Julienne’s room easily. When I stepped inside, I nearly faltered. She looked… small.
The once confident, fiery woman who had always challenged me now lay in bed, weak and pale, her skin clammy with
sweat.
Her gaze met mine, and for a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then-
“I’m sorry.”
Her voice cracked, and suddenly, she was crying. Tears spilled down her cheeks, her fragile frame trembling as she clutched the thin hospital blanket.
“Evelyne, I-” She struggled for breath. “I ruined everything. I ruined us. I never wanted to hate you. I never wanted to hurt you.”
I stood frozen, her words sinking deep into my heart.
Then, before I could stop myself, I stepped forward and took her hand.
“Julienne,” I whispered, my own tears threatening to fall. “Just take care of yourself, okay? You’ll be fine. You’ll get better.“”
She squeezed my hand tightly, sobbing quietly. For the first time in years, we weren’t fighting. We weren’t throwing accusations, weren’t blaming each other. We were just sisters.”
But fate wasn’t kind. Because the next morning, I woke up to hushed whispers and the solemn faces of doctors.
Julienne had lost her baby.
I found her sitting by the window, staring blankly outside.
She didn’t cry. Didn’t speak. Just sat there, her hands resting protectively over the stomach that no longer carried life.
I sat beside her, silent. Minutes passed before she finally spoke.
“I deserved this, didn’t I?”
Her voice was hollow, empty.”
I turned to her sharply. “Don’t say that.”
Julienne let out a bitter laugh. “I hurt you. I hurt Mateo. I ruined everything. And now, karma took my child.” Her voice broke. “Maybe this is what I get.”
I shook my head. “No one deserves this.”
Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall.”
“I don’t know how to fix my life, Evelyne,” she whispered. “I don’t know how to be better.“”
l exhaled shakily, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear like I used to when we were kids.
“Then let’s figure it out together.“N
་་༤
Julienne finally broke down, burying her face in her hands.
And I held her, just like a sister should.
While Julienne recovered, her son, John, was with Mateo. I hadn’t seen him in weeks, but when I visited Julienne’s house to gather some of her belongings, I saw him through the window.N
Mateo was sitting on the floor, John curled up in his lap as he read a bedtime story. I couldn’t hear the words, but John’s little giggle filled the room.
For the first time, Mateo didn’t look like the man who had hurt me. He just looked like a father. A man trying to do right by his son. And maybe, that was enough.
and forcing her to
Taking care of Julienne became my new normal. Between hospital visits, making sure she ate proper/ go outside for fresh air, I barely had time to think about myself. Until one morning, when everything changed.”
I had been feeling off for days–dizzy spells, exhaustion, nausea that refused to go away.
Cole noticed first.§
“You should see a doctor,” he said one night as I pushed my plate of food away.”
“I’m fine, I insisted.
He narrowed his eyes. “You’ve been ‘fine‘ for a week now.”
I sighed. “I’m just tired. It’s probably stress-”
Then it hit me.
Stress.
But… what if it wasn’t? A sharp realization gripped me, and before I knew it, I was rushing to the nearest pharmacy.
Twenty minutes later, I sat on the bathroom floor, staring at the pregnancy test in my trembling hands.
Two lines.
Positive.
My heart pounded.
I was pregnant.”
Cole found me sitting on the floor, my knees pulled to my chest.
His brows furrowed in concern. “Evelyne?”
I looked up, swallowing hard. “I… I need to tell you something.”
He knelt beside me. “What is it?“}
I handed him the test.
His eyes flickered to the result.”
Silence stretched between us.
Then-
A slow, breathtaking smile spread across his face.”
“You’re pregnant?” His voice was full of wonder, disbelief.”
I nodded, tears slipping down my cheeks.
Cole let out a shaky laugh before pulling me into his arms.
“We’re having a baby,” he murmured against my hair, his voice thick with emotion. I closed my eyes, gripping him tightly.
