3:
I returned from the cemetery at dusk. David
wasn’t home.
He hadn’t called, hadn’t texted all day.
Because of the exchange, I felt intermittent
cramps, and the baby’s heartbeat was gone.
L
My memories, too, were beginning to blur.
Exhausted, I fell into a deep sleep, plagued by
dreams.
I dreamt of a man, kind and doting, his face
always obscured by a hazy fog.
We stood on a beach, exchanging vows of
eternal love.
Then, I dreamt of a little girl with pigtails and
a flower dress.
I reached for her, but my hand passed right
through.
I woke to David shaking me gently, his eyes
full of concern.
L
“Bad dreams? It’s okay, I’m here…”
I caught my breath, realizing I was drenched
in sweat.
The sunlight stung my eyes. I pulled away.
from him.
“I dreamt something happened to the baby.
David, I’ve heard about Whispers & Wishes,
the pawn shop that grants wishes. Take me
there. I want our baby to be safe.”
His face paled. “No,” he said instantly.
Then, backtracking, he added, “It’s just a
rumor. And even if it’s real, it demands a
hefty price. You only get one wish, it’s not
that simple.”
く
“If it were real, I’d save it for when you’re in
real danger. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure our
baby is born safely.”
His words were sincere, but my heart ached.
He was lying. He had already pawned our
child for Amelia. How could our baby be born
now?
I looked at him, a hollow laugh escaping my
lips.
I flashed back to the day we found out I was
pregnant.
His face had lit up with joy, his eyes shining
with anticipation as he held me close.
<
“Sarah, I promise you, I’ll protect you and our
baby with my life.”
His words now mocked me, a cruel reminder
of my naiveté.
The pain was unbearable. My mind went
blank.
I didn’t even protest when he suggested
Amelia move in.
Amelia, seeing my despair, couldn’t hide her
smugness.
While David was out, she leaned in, her voice
low. “I hear David tried everything to cure my
blindness. He even went to Whispers &
Wishes.”
<
“And the next day, my sight started to return.
Guess what he pawned?”
I stared at her coldly, silent.
Frustrated by my lack of reaction, her smug
facade cracked.
“You know, David always loved me. If it
wasn’t for his brother, we would have been
together long ago.”
She grabbed my hand. “If you don’t believe
me, I’ll show you just how much he cares.”
Her grip tightened, and as I tried to pull away,
she suddenly stumbled back, falling to the
floor with a loud thud.
David rushed down the stairs.
L
He helped Amelia up, his voice full of
concern. “Amelia! Are you hurt?”
Amelia clung to him, her voice trembling. “I
just wanted to say hello to Sarah, but I guess
I upset her somehow…”
David frowned, turning to me accusingly.
“Why did you push her?”
I was stunned, my heart aching. “I didn’t push
her. She fell…”
“Enough!” he interrupted, his voice hard.
“Stop making excuses! Amelia is so kind, she
would never fall on purpose. You’re just
jealous and petty!”
His words extinguished any fight left in me,
leaving only coldness. The tears, the words I
く
wanted to scream, all vanished.
Amelia continued to sob, her shoulders
shaking dramatically.
But when she glanced at me, her eyes were
full of triumph.
I’m leaving soon anyway, I thought. Let it be.
I turned and walked upstairs without another
word.
I called my friend, Michael. “Come get me
when the time comes.”
