He came into the bedroom and pulled back the covers. His face paled as his eyes landed on the large red stain on the sheets beneath me.
“Elaine! Baby, wake up!” he yelled as he shook me frantically. “Are you okay? Come on, don’t do this to me!”
David shook me awake.
I groaned weakly, letting out a faint, trembling whisper. “David, my stomach hurts—so much. Please... take me to the hospital.”
I let my body go limp, collapsing back onto the bed, playing the part of someone too weak to move.
David’s composure cracked instantly. He scrambled to throw on his coat and bolted toward the door.
“Mom! Stop whatever you’re doing!” he yelled. “Elaine’s bleeding—she needs to go to the hospital!”
Moments later, my mother-in-law barged into the room. She yanked the covers back just enough to take a look, her sharp eyes darting over the blood. Her expression flickered—hesitation, then something darker—before she turned and walked out without a word.
Downstairs, I heard the rumble of the car engine as David backed out of the driveway. Relief swept over me. If I could just make it to the city, I’d finally have the chance to bring up the divorce.
But then the car stopped.