The Wife He Didn't Save

Synopsis

"There's only one last bag of O-negative blood type left in the blood bank. But our patients are both in critical need." The nurse, Susan Hill, burst into the emergency room, clutching the blood bag tightly in her arms. Claire Goodwin and I were both lying in front of Henry Palmer. She was on Bed 1, and I was on Bed 2. Claire was still lucid enough to cry and reach out, grabbing at Henry's sleeve. My face, though, was covered in blood, and a sharp, crushing pain tore through my chest. Even holding my eyes open took every ounce of strength I had left. "Dr. Palmer, both patients are losing blood," Susan said quickly. "The central blood bank is sending more, but it'll take at least forty minutes. Who gets this bag now?" Henry stood between the two beds and hesitated for only two seconds. Then he said, "Give it to Claire." My heart monitor suddenly let out a sharp beep. It was as if the machine was asking the question I couldn't voice: 'Why?' Susan instinctively glanced at me. "Bed 2's blood pressure is falling fast, too. If we wait another forty minutes, she might not make it." Henry had already taken the blood bag and hung it himself beside Claire's bed. The dark red blood slowly traveled down the clear tube, drop by drop, into her veins. "Claire's abdominal bleeding is worse. We need to make sure she's stable first," he said, his voice calm and decisive. That was the tone I knew so well. He had saved so many lives. Whenever there was an emergency, he never hesitated to make life-or-death decisions. I'd always admired him so much. I used to think marrying a man who fought against death every day was the greatest luck I'd ever had. Only now did I finally realize the truth. When it was Claire and me lying side by side in front of him, it never mattered who the other patient was. He would always choose her.