ticking away the seconds. She hadn't slept. The image of

irst light of dawn painted the sky grey. Da

sitting there, a dark s

ing to his chest. "You scared me.

he could see it clearly now, another fresh hickey, darker this time

e said, her voice ra

out with practiced ease. "A crisis at the in

, that he would never spend a night away from home, no

as a hollow, empty feeling, the final death o

nded herself. The thought wa

and she felt a warm trickle from her nose. She broug

e, his face pale with genuine shoc

aid, pushing his hand

tight with alarm. "We're going to the hospital

, sidestepping him graceful

e was starting to feel it, the invisible wall she had built b

rang. A special ringtone, a soft, sultr

reen, then guiltily

id, her voice f

s voice a low, irritated murmur.

s Elyssa.

sion strained. "That was the office aga

on of lies wrapped in a handsome package. How could he stand there, fresh from his mistress's

," sh

cted kiss on the forehead. "I'll call you from

eft without a b

to the hos

ctor looked at her test result

s the nosebleed. But it's not surprising, given the circumstances." Th

. Pregnant. A baby. Their baby. The on

orst possible moment. A

doctor asked, noticing the co

ol of their love, a new beginning. Now, it was just a link to

couldn't bring a child

to compose herself, she heard a fa

as D

filled with a pure, unadulterated joy she hadn't heard

ugging Elyssa, spinning her around in the sterile hospital corridor

as his "e

The pain was so immense it was cleansing. It burne

k to the doctor's office,

lear and calm. "I've made a dec