- 3.
Ethan didn’t visit me for the next few days.
I wasn’t upset, only sad I couldn’t say
<
goodbye properly.
The man who’d consumed my youth had
caused me immense pain.
He refused to let doctors treat me; my
wounds festered.
Even the slightest movement caused
bleeding.
I endured the agony, scrolling through Ethan’s
social media.
In every picture, Olivia was clinging to him,
covered in love bites.
They looked like lovers who’d been together
forever.
Just like us, once.
Each picture felt like a knife twisting in my
heart.
Yet, every morning, he’d text me.
Asking if I’d eaten.
Telling me to reflect and apologize to Olivia,
promising to arrange for doctors.
<
I didn’t reply. I just waited for the end.
Seven days later was my child’s memorial. Afterward, I’d have no reason to live.
Finally, the day arrived. I cleaned myself,
hoping to maintain some dignity in death. A nurse rushed in.
“Rachel, Ethan and Olivia are at the morgue, saying your child’s spirit is angry!”
“They’re trying to banish the ghost! After death, to be treated like that, it’s awful!”
I shoved her aside, running to the morgue.
My blood ran cold. My tears flowed.
I was about to die; I wouldn’t be in their way
any longer.
Why couldn’t they leave my dead child alone?
They were beating his body with wooden
swords.
I screamed, bursting into tears:
“Stop! He’s dead! What right do you have?!”
Pain flickered in Ethan’s eyes.
く
He pulled me away, holding me close.
I struggled, clutching his shirt, crying
hysterically.
“Ethan, that’s our child! How could you be so
cruel?!”
“What did he do wrong? Why are you doing this to him?!”
“Please, stop hurting him! I’ll give you my life, just stop!”
After ten years, he cried for the first time in
front of me.
But he covered my eyes, his voice soft.
“Rachel, be quiet!”
“Olivia’s pregnant. She’s having nightmares.
A spiritual advisor said our child’s spirit is
restless.“.
“If we don’t appease it, Olivia will lose the
baby.”
“I’ve already lost our child, I can’t lose
Olivia’s too!”
<
My vision blurred, I coughed up blood.
Ethan didn’t flinch; he held me tighter.
He was scratched and bleeding, but his face
was buried in my neck.
His voice was hoarse:
“Rachel, forgive me, I can’t hurt Olivia, only
you. It’s what we owe her!”
I calmed down.
I looked at him, stunned.
Finally, I forced a bitter smile.
“Okay, I don’t blame you. Please, let me go.”
Seeing the despair in my eyes, Ethan
hesitated.
He stammered, pleading with me.
“Rachel, where are you going?”
“You owe me. You can’t leave!”
I was about to speak when Olivia screamed,
clutching her stomach.
“Ethan, it hurts! Save our baby!”
Ethan’s brow furrowed.
く
His eyes grew cold.
“The advisor said to destroy it!”
I watched as he took out a bottle of sulfuric
acid, handing it to someone.
Holding Olivia, he looked at me with regret.
“Rachel, I promise, this is the end. We’re
even.”
“I won’t bother you again, but I won’t let you leave. You’ll spend your life atoning!”
He closed his eyes, avoiding my gaze, coldly
ordering:
“Do it!”
“No! Don’t hurt him!”
A wail escaped my throat. I lunged forward.
But I was too late.
The acid burned my skin.
Ignoring the pain, I protected my child.
Ethan ordered me to be restrained.
My fingers bled as I scratched the floor, but I
couldn’t stop them.
<
I watched in despair.
After the acid was thrown, Ethan didn’t look
at me. He carried Olivia away.
I trembled, holding the tiny bones. I was
numb, unable to cry.
When the nurse arrived, I was filled with
despair.
My child was taken away. I left the hospital
like a zombie.
Ethan’s texts kept coming.
My scheduled car was waiting outside.
It would take me to my sky burial.
Knowing this would erase my existence, I
hurried.
But someone grabbed me from behind,
covering my mouth and nose.
Before I could struggle, I fainted.
