In my heart, Luther was already sentenced to death.
The doctor’s expression shifted to quiet sympathy. Without another word, he adjusted the surgical plan and wheeled me into the operating room.
After the surgery, I cremated the fetus and sent the ashes to Stella’s apartment.
During the seven days I was hospitalized, Luther never reached out.
To him, I was nothing more than an afterthought, less significant than a stranger.
Through Stella’s social media, I saw photos of them indulging in passionate bliss at the apartment.
In one of the pictures, Luther held Stella in his arms, his embrace filled with affection. She smiled like a blooming flower, their necks marked with unmistakable traces of intimacy.
Before, I would have rushed over, tears streaming down my face, demanding an explanation.
But this time, I simply clicked the like button and then paused.
On the day of my discharge, my best friend Nina brought my mother’s urn to the hospital.
Her voice choked with emotion. "By the time I got there… there were only bones left."
"You and your mother were so devoted to him, but he… he’s nothing but a beast!"
For Luther Valdez, I brought along my mother away from our home and moved to this city.