Chapter 2
"This is Daddy, this is me."
He placed them inside as he spoke.
After searching through the pieces, he finally found a female mini-figure.
I couldn't help feeling a flicker of hope.
"This is Mom." Easton looked at Anna as he placed the figure inside, then started adding the roof.
Jonathan didn't find anything wrong. "You're amazing, Easton! You've built our home so quickly."
I couldn't take it anymore. "Easton."
He ignored me completely.
I tried again, unwilling to give up. "Easton."
This time, he stopped what he was doing, and all three of them looked at me.
Jonathan was clearly displeased.
"Can't you let our son play with his blocks? Why do you have to keep bothering him? You're ruining the fun."
Anna pretended to mediate, "Mr. Jensen, maybe Ariana is upset because we're ignoring her while we play? Don't be angry."
I just looked at Easton, shaking the burn ointment in my hand.
A silent reminder.
He didn't even glance at my injury, just threw a LEGO piece at me.
He shouted, "So annoying! Can't you just go away?"
The block hit exactly where I'd been burned.
I gasped in pain.
Easton, surprised by what he'd done, seemed frightened.
"Are... are you okay?"
Before I could speak, Anna jumped in. "You're just a child. How much strength could you have? I'm sure it doesn't hurt."
Jonathan agreed. "Yes, Easton's only five, how much could it hurt? Ariana, don't be so sensitive."
The pain reached my heart, leaving me speechless.
Easton noticed the ointment in my hand and finally remembered something.
He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Anna suddenly exclaimed, "Oh! When did I cut my hand?"
She held up her index finger, showing a shallow scratch with a drop or two of blood.
Easton immediately became anxious.
"Daddy, quick! Get the medicine!"
Jonathan hurriedly stood up, bumping into me in his rush but not looking back as he headed for the bedroom.
Easton jumped up, too. "I'll go look too!"
Suddenly, only Anna and I remained in the living room.
Anna instantly laughed, all trace of pain gone.
She said, "Ariana, I almost feel sorry for you.
"Such a big burn blister on your hand, but neither your husband nor your son even notices.
"Oh, that's right, Easton isn't your son. He's mine.
"You probably didn't know, but that short-lived thing you gave birth to was violently induced, you know."
Anna grew more pleased with herself.
"A full-term baby induced out... You could clearly see its arms and head.
"Though everything was in pieces after they cut it up..."
She spoke with such certainty. She must have been there.
The heartbreak and rage left me almost unable to breathe.
My baby...
He had been so close to seeing this beautiful world.
Seeing me like this, Anna became even bolder.
"Actually, there was nothing wrong with your uterus, but I begged Jonathan in tears, saying I didn't want another child taking away his love for Easton."
"Enough!" I screamed, cutting her off.
Anna suddenly clutched her stomach and collapsed backward, wailing pitifully.
She cried, "Ariana, I was just asking about pregnancy advice... why did you push me?
"Just because you can never have children again, you can't stand seeing others pregnant either?"
I was abruptly shoved aside.
"Anna!"
"Mommy!"
The two rushed to Anna's side.
A glaring red stain spread beneath her.
Jonathan flew into a rage, his gaze toward me murderous. "Ariana, how could you go this far!"
Easton charged at me, kicking and punching. "You evil woman! Why don't you just die!"
Anna coughed weakly. "Jonathan... my stomach hurts so much..."
Jonathan immediately scooped her up, frantic with worry. "Don't be scared, I'm taking you to the hospital right now. The baby will be fine."
Easton cried heartbrokenly. "Mom, you have to be okay!"
In the blink of an eye, only I remained in the room.standing there, all alone.
I simply lay on the floor and wept openly.
When the tears dried up, my heart felt dead too.
I treated my burned hand and scheduled a fake death service for the day after tomorrow.
I left the mess as it was and just lay in bed.
For the first time in five years, I woke up naturally.
Noon.