Page 103 of Tainted Ties

“Call!”

Opening the door to our bedroom, I laid Aurora down on the bed, finally being able to inspect the rest of her body.

Blood stained the front of her jeans—so much blood.

My body went slack, numbing all senses as I dropped to my knees, staring at the crimson color.

“It’s okay, Roman,” Aurora whispered.

Tears welled in my eyes, blurring the image I so badly wanted to erase from my memory.

“Did—” I paused, swallowing down the thick restraint in my throat. “DidIdo that?”

She shook her head, pinching her lips together as the pillow under her head became drenched with her tears.

“I didn’t know,” she bawled, covering her face with her hands. “I- I di- didn’t…”

Her sentence went unfinished when I climbed into bed next to her, bringing her trembling body close to mine.

I caressed her hair, kissing the top of her head repeatedly, trying to make her understand that I knew.

“I’m sorry I lost our baby.”

Her words were a piercing cry, gnawing at my skin, pulling it until it stretched and ripped apart.

Our baby.

Grabbing her chin, I tilted her face toward me, staring into the purest shade of green that made me fall in love with her.

“Don’t you dare apologize to me,anima mia.” The burn in my eyes increased until a lone tear trickled down my face.

If I hadn’t locked her in the basement, this wouldn’t have happened. “I’m the one who’s sorry.” I pressed a kiss to her cheek, nuzzling my nose against it. “Please, forgive me.”

My body was visibly shaking. Becoming a father wasn’t something I had wanted until I met Aurora and I realized I wanted allherchildren.

My wife brought her arm around me, pulling me to her chest, her touch breathing life into me when all I felt was dead.

“There’s nothing to forgive.” Her voice quavered, breaking my entire being with each word. “I was experiencing unusual stomach pain this afternoon, but I brushed it aside thinking it was anxiety.”

She pulled my head back, her eyes traveling the length of my face before settling on my eyes. “When I said I betrayed you because I love you, I was being honest. Your life was on the line, and I would rather have lived with your hatred for me than live without you at all.”

“I would have done anything for you if you had told me.Anything.”

She closed her eyes, face twisted in grief.

We were silent for a few moments, embraced in one another’s touch before she spoke again.

“Do you hate me?”

I could never, even if I tried. I don’t even think I had ever hated her when I was supposed to.

“The word hate doesn’t exist on the same spectrum as to how I feel about you, Aurora.”

“Roman?”

“Yes,anima mia?”

Her inhale was sharp. “Please leave the room when Dr. Aldo comes. I don’t want you to listen.”

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