It rained heavily in Amberwood for a week. The unfinished Marshall Group project collapsed under the floodwaters.
Many workers got injured. The company couldn't reach Oscar Marshall. Panic spread quickly.
To calm the workers, I braved the rain and took a taxi to the company. Halfway there, a flash of white light blinded me. I lost consciousness.
After what felt like forever, a noisy sound woke me. A masked face appeared before me. "Ma'am, can you hear me? Ma'am..."
Rain soaked my face. My vision blurred. Just before I passed out again, I heard a nurse's anxious voice.
"The patient's losing a lot of blood. Get an ambulance ready."
With my last ounce of strength, I grabbed the hand in front of me. "Please... please save my child."
Before I blacked out, I heard the nurse scream. "Quick, we've got a pregnant woman here."
I was pregnant, but my husband Oscar didn't notice. He thought my pregnancy symptoms were just tricks to compete with his first love, Rachael Norris.
I still remembered the day I confirmed my pregnancy at the hospital. I saw him there, carefully helping Rachael with her checkup. When he noticed me, his face showed annoyance.
"I told you I'm just looking after her as a friend. Stop being paranoid and following me to the hospital."
I froze, forgetting the still-warm pregnancy test in my hand.
His absence that night didn't surprise me. I knew where he was. Still, I rushed to the company to stand in for him, to save his business, to protect the father of the child in my belly.
I felt my body temperature dropping. In a daze, I heard voices around me.
"Dr. Fowler, the pregnant woman wants to save the baby."
"She's lost so much blood. It's a miracle she's still alive. The bleeding won't stop. Where's the family? Contact them now."
"Dr. Fowler, we can't reach the family. The patient's emergency contact is turned off."
"What kind of family leaves a pregnant woman alone?"
Family? I had no family left. Even the only family I had, the child in my womb, was slipping away.
My body wouldn't move. The beeping of machines and the chatter of medical staff echoed around me.
I felt death creeping closer than ever. In the end, I drifted into unconsciousness again.
When I finally opened my eyes on the hospital bed, my best friend Rita sat beside me.
Her presence didn't surprise me. Before I lost consciousness, I heard her voice.
"You're awake? Feeling any better?"
I tried to speak, but my throat was dry and voiceless.
Rita stood by my bed, hesitating.
I forced the words out. "It's fine. If the baby's gone, it's gone."
Rita's eyes reddened instantly. "Don't be sad. You're still recovering. Take care of yourself."
A bad feeling crept over me. Normally, she'd curse Oscar and call me lovesick. But now, her eyes held only pity.
One look, and Rita knew my suspicion. With trembling hands, she handed me the medical report.
I read the words "Patient's bleeding uncontrollable, performed hysterectomy." Below, smudged by liquid, was a signature, "Rita Begum".