The clouds were still foggy in the majestic room of a couple who loved each other. Jess was still holding on with the rain pouring down from her eyelids. A sad face hid behind the bends of the legs. Her eyes were still trying to uncover the veil behind the tired question words. Fate taught her various games that contained a lot of bitterness behind such a sweet package.
Now, she finds a painful reality as a new life begins to reside in the womb. How will she arrange her future life in the next phase? Blind love fused with a great sense of disappointment has made her fail to fulfill her obligations to Elfara. What will happen, if the soul in her stomach is born into the world? Jess burst into tears.
She lifted her head, looking for something. The focus is on the table where rolls of colorful stickers are scattered. A pair of heavy-looking legs she dragged to get closer. Trembling, her cold hand grabbed a cutter that was sitting there. The small protrusion in the center of the object is shifted upwards until the hidden stainless steel has partially popped out.
Red liquid appears following the pattern created from the tip of the cutter eye. Jess’ red eyes stared intently at her still shaking hands. She wiped the blood that was moving up her hand until a chiseled writing could be clearly seen.
“Nick … you are a traitor!” Jess muttered hatefully.
While Jess was struggling with various tastes, Michele shouted through the door. Knocking on the door that wouldn’t open. He also took the initiative to break it down. However, he did not have enough strength.
“Nick!” The shock slightly disturbed Michele’s tension when suddenly Nick came with the key to the bedroom door.
“She was crying, but now ….”
“I’ll take care of it,” Nick cut in as the door opened. They were both shocked to see Jess lying covered in blood.
“Jessy!” Nick jogged, lifting his wife’s limp body into his arms. An array of words in her hand, he read. The word ‘TRAITOR’ that Jess carved with the cutter managed to make Nick’s chest squeeze.
“Michele, please call the doctor!”
“Already!” said Michele, then Nick hurriedly wrapped Jess’ hand in gauze to stop the bleeding.
“This is too long, let’s just go to the hospital!” said Nick.
“Okay!” With alacrity, Michele prepared everything.
It didn’t take long, the car they were traveling in had arrived at the hospital recommended by Michele. The nurses immediately rushed Jess to a special room that only the medical team could enter. After that, another nurse led Nick to another room.
“I want to accompany my wife, Ners!” refuse Nick.
“Mister, don’t worry! Mrs. Jess is being treated. We will do the best. Meanwhile, we will also take care of you. Your condition is not fine, Mister!” explained the nurse.
“No, Ners! I have to make sure that nothing serious happens to my wife,” Nick insisted.
“Nick … don’t be stubborn! How are you going to take care of Jess if you’re like that? Let me handle it for a while,” said Michele. After considering it for a while, with a heavy sigh, Nick finally nodded. He said, “Please take care of her!”
“Of course. I already treat you like my own family.”
As evening approached, Nick sat beside Jess, he had not seen his wife’s eyelids open. He could only stare at her guiltily. What was feared in the end also happened. All against desire. Nick never intended to betray his wife. What happened between him and Joana was just a trap. He never knew that the woman he considered a friend had conceived and gave birth to his child, and he had to learn that fact from the child he had from another woman.
“I’m sorry, Jess!”
“You promised not to leave me, no matter what. Are you going to deny it, Honey?”
“Even you perpetuate my mistake here.” Nick lightly touched the scratch that made Jess lose consciousness.
“Nick!” said Michele, who had just entered.
“Go to the doctor’s room! There’s something you need to hear from her.” Nick walked into the room indicated by Michele without saying a word.
“Good evening, Mr. Nick!” greeted the doctor as Nick dropped the weights on the chair opposite the doctor.
“My wife is fine, right?” Nick shortened the chat.
“Sorry, we have tried our best.” Nick glared at those words.
“What do you mean, Doctor?”
“Mrs. Jess lost a lot of blood. This condition not only caused Mister’s wife to have a miscarriage, but ….” Before the doctor finished speaking, Nick was furious.
“My wife miscarried? How did that happen, Doctor? What are you doing inside?” Nick pounded the table, making the female doctor jump.
“Calm yourself, Sir! We’ve done our best. However, Mister was too late to bring her here. I hope you can be tolerant. I’m sure, the baby and the mother have a beautiful place in the side of the Almighty.” The last sentence is like a sharp knife. Not only did it hurt Nick’s eardrums, but it pierced his heart and pierced his spine.
“Baby and mother? What do you mean, Doctor?” Nick’s eyes reddened.
“Forgive us, Mr. Nick! Your wife is dead.” Instantly, Nick felt his world shattered into pieces. The limbs, that suddenly lost their energy, couldn’t support the shock that weighed down his entire body. Nick leaned on the side of the table to hold his body from falling.
“No! You can’t leave me, Jess!” Nick started walking limply towards his wife’s room. He looked fixedly at the pale face on the bed. It feels like just yesterday, they were drinking the sweetness of honey. Nick rested his head on Jess’ chest, trying to find any remaining beats that might have been left behind. Minutes of silence ended, then there were only sobs that shook Nick’s sturdy shoulders.
“Jessy … wake up! This is not how you reply to me. You have the right to punish me in any way, as long as I can see you happy.” There was no answer, the body that had been stretched out just left a tinge full of sadness.
“Be strong, Nick!” said Michele with an expression full of pity.
“Jessy is dead, you promised to take care of her for me. You denied it!” Nick said as he fell on the side of the bed. The dew-adorned eyes couldn’t see anything else but his wife’s body.
“She’s gone with our future child!” he continued.
“Forgive me. If I had the power to determine when a human would die, I would certainly immortalize her with you.”
“Kill me, Michelle! A cursed human like me doesn’t deserve to live,” said Nick, who suddenly took a fruit knife and held it out to Michele. The man who recently had a close relationship with Erhan’s family looked astonished. Carefully, he took the knife and kept it in a safe place.
“Are you out of your mind? Do not act stupid! Death will neither solve all your problems nor atone for your sins.”
“What do you think I’m living for after Jess is gone?”
“Lots! You have children you still have to account for. Do you think how Dev will feel after knowing everything? You would not have guessed how big the pain and mental burden she was carrying. Then, what about Elfara who has yet to be found? Is she still alive or ….” Michele didn’t continue his advice, seeing Nick’s pitiful face. It was not easy for Nick to go through all that and outside his profession as a psychiatrist, Michele understands the condition very well. Nick threw his blank stare at the floor. Dropping drops of sorrow that continue to flow.