Incarcerated within the confines of the cold, desolate jail cell, Miss Aubrey found herself in the grips of despair, her freedom snatched away for two agonizing days. Solitude hung heavy in the air, as no one had ventured forth to visit her in this time of distress.
The words of the police officer reverberated through the stillness, breaking the silence like a ray of hope amidst the darkness. “Miss Aubrey, you have the option to contact your family for legal representation, or we shall arrange a Government-appointed lawyer on your behalf,” the officer informed her with a glimmer of compassion.
Aubrey’s countenance transformed, a radiant beam gracing her face upon hearing the possibility of making a call. Eagerly, she longed to reach out to someone, to bridge the vast chasm that separated her from the outside world. The police officer, acknowledging her yearning for connection, escorted her to the solitary phone in the room.
Fingers trembling with a mix of trepidation and anticipation, Aubrey dialed the familiar number etched in her memory—Evan’s number. With each ring, her heartbeat quickened, and a cascade of emotions surged within her, threatening to overflow and spill forth as tears from her eyes. Finally, a voice broke through the void on the other end of the line—Evan’s voice.
“E…Hello,” Evan responded, his surprise evident as he grappled with the silence that greeted him.
“Evan,” Aubrey attempted to utter his name, but her voice faltered, caught in the vortex of emotions that seized her very being.
Upon hearing her voice, Evan contemplated ending the call, his indifference rising to the surface. However, Aubrey, desperately yearning to connect with him, persevered. Once more, she called out his name, hoping against hope that he would recognize her, see beyond the shadows of her current predicament.
In a moment of inner dialogue, Aubrey’s voice mingled with her thoughts, whispering her doubts aloud. “Aubrey, he is such a powerful and influential businessman. How could he possibly remember me, acknowledge my existence?”
Summoning her resolve, Aubrey mustered the strength to articulate her identity. “I’m Aubrey speaking,” she mustered, her voice carrying the weight of her longing and unrequited love.
The response that followed pierced her heart with a chilling coldness, as Evan’s voice resonated with an icy demeanor. “What do you want to talk about?” he asked, his tone laced with frigidity.
“Evan, why are you speaking to me like this?” Aubrey’s expression shifted, mirroring the sorrow that washed over her upon encountering the callousness in Evan’s words.
“Do you truly have no inkling as to why I would adopt such a demeanor? Or have you dared to commit the grave error of contacting me from this day onward?” Every harsh word that escaped Evan’s lips fell upon Aubrey’s heart like a heavy hammer, shattering her fragile hopes. Darkness clouded her vision, and with a final, fleeting moment of consciousness, she succumbed to the overwhelming weight of her emotions, collapsing onto the unforgiving ground.
Witnessing Aubrey’s collapse, the concerned police officer rushed to her side, urgently calling out her name. Meanwhile, Evan, hearing the distant echoes of Aubrey’s name, felt an unexpected surge of alarm grip him. Reacting swiftly, he summoned his secretary, issuing an urgent directive that left no room for delay.
“Find out what has transpired with Aubrey,” Evan commanded, his voice tinged with a mixture of worry and apprehension.
“Yes, sir,” the secretary acknowledged the gravity of the situation, promptly setting forth to execute the assigned task, leaving Evan alone with his swirling thoughts.
.
.
“Miss Aubrey, I want to inform you that you are with child,” the doctor gently disclosed to Aubrey, who was taken aback by a mix of emotions. A tumultuous surge of joy and sorrow vied for dominance within her as she grappled with the realization of this newfound life growing deep within her.
With the weight of uncertainty bearing down on her, days turned into weeks, and Aubrey found solace in the prospect of embracing her child. However, a painful twinge of longing persisted, reminding her that Evan had forsaken her in her darkest hour. The man she had once loved with unwavering devotion, for whom she would have willingly sacrificed her very existence, had abandoned her to face her tribulations alone.
Nevertheless, Aubrey sought solace in a new ritual, a tender communion with her unborn child. She poured her heart into heartfelt conversations that transcended the confines of time and sorrow. Each passing day forged an unbreakable bond, shielding her from the relentless march of time and the crushing weight of her solitude.
Now burdened by the weight of seven months of pregnancy, Aubrey’s body bore the brunt of her confinement. Her hands and feet throbbed incessantly, and on some days, the pain was so overwhelming that every movement became a monumental task. Well-meaning neighbors cautioned her about the possibility of an early arrival, adding to Aubrey’s anxiety. She yearned for the day when she could hold her baby safely in her arms, yet trembled at the challenges posed by a premature birth.
Today, as she navigated the corridors of the courthouse, Aubrey’s steps were labored under the strain of her burgeoning belly. Leaning against the wall for support, she pressed forward with determined resolve, yearning for swift resolution and a return to the solace of her secret sanctuary—a space where she could converse intimately with her unborn child. Restlessness coursed through her veins, and she repeatedly inquired about the progress of her hearing, yearning to escape the claustrophobic confines of the courtroom.
“Are you well?” an astute officer observed Aubrey’s agitation and approached her with genuine concern, their voice laced with empathy.
“I cannot discern… a strange sensation pervades me today,” Aubrey confessed, her trembling fingers reaching up to quell the beads of perspiration forming on her neck.
“Remain here momentarily; I shall procure a glass of water for you,” the officer offered, their compassionate nature shining through. Overwhelmed, Aubrey sought refuge upon a nearby bench, her body wracked with discomfort.
Suddenly, a searing pang wracked Aubrey’s abdomen, forcing her to emit a piercing cry of agony. All eyes turned toward her, and a sense of urgency hung in the air, thick with apprehension.
“Her water has broken!” someone exclaimed, prompting swift action from the authorities. Aubrey, her hands clenched tightly around her stomach, endured the relentless waves of pain that washed over her.
The police officers swiftly transported her to the nearest hospital, yet Aubrey felt utterly isolated in her suffering. Despite the excruciating torment wracking her body, there was no comforting presence to alleviate her anguish. She was hastily wheeled into the sterile environment of the operating theater, her consciousness ebbing away, surrendering to the disorienting fog of pain.
Sometime later, the room was filled with the piercing cry of a newborn, slicing through the weighty atmosphere. The doctor cradled the tiny bundle in their hands and turned toward a figure, awaiting direction.
“Congratulations, sir. It is a boy,” the doctor exclaimed, a touch of elation evident in their voice.
“Thank you,” the person murmured, their gaze transfixed upon the fragile life before them, tender and vulnerable.
The doctor’s eyes flickered with uncertainty as they pondered the next steps. “What shall we convey to her, sir?” they queried, seeking guidance.
“Tell her… tell her that her child has departed this world,” the person instructed, their tone heavy with resignation. With a final, poignant farewell, they withdrew from the operation theater, clutching the precious life that had been denied to Aubrey.
The haze of anesthesia began to lift, and Aubrey regained consciousness, her surroundings blurred and fragmented. Instinctively, her hand reached out to caress her now-flat belly, but instead of the familiar contours of her child, she was met with emptiness—a void that threatened to consume her very being.
“My… my child,” Aubrey murmured through parched lips, her voice barely audible. The nurse regarded her with a mix of sympathy and sorrow, understanding the enormity of the devastation that lay before her.
“I regret to inform you that your child could not be saved,” the nurse gently conveyed, the weight of those words settling heavily upon Aubrey’s shattered heart.
“No… no… my child… you cannot leave me!” Aubrey’s anguished cries filled the room, reverberating through the sterile air, unanswered. In that moment, her pain transcended physical torment, enveloping her in a desolate grief that echoed across the expanse of her shattered world. Helpless and bereft, she wailed, for there was naught else she could do but mourn the irreplaceable loss that had befallen her.
