When Love Becomes a Cage (Melanie)

The moment I was wheeled into the hospital, I was utterly dazed.

My hand drifted downwards, and sure enough, there was a lot of blood. But why didn't it hurt? Why couldn't I feel anything?

Nurses kept reassuring me, urging me to take deep breaths, but why should I be reassured?

It wasn't until Warren Chandler's stoic face came into view that I realized I was crying.

"Dr. Chandler, my baby..."

"We'll handle the procedure, just a minor one. You just stay calm. Eliana has arranged for a hearty beef and vegetable stew for you after the surgery. It'll help you recover... just sleep it off..." He and a few other medical staff pushed the gurney along.

Looking up at his tightly pressed lips, I saw him anxious for the first time.

Feeling my gaze, he looked down. This time, his usual sharp tongue was replaced with a simple reassurance, "Don't worry."

A smile flickered across my face. "Tell Eliana not to come."

Clyde was her unrequited love from college days, the one that got away.

I knew she claimed to despise Clyde, but deep down, she was still hung up on the college version of Clyde, just like me.

Would she become disillusioned with love upon knowing what had become of Clyde now?

Tears rolled down my cheeks, uncertain if they were for her or for me, as I slipped into unconsciousness under anesthesia. When I woke up, I knew the child was gone.

It was a strange sensation.

Even when my belly was flat before, I could feel the presence of a child. Now, with the same flat belly, I knew I had lost a tiny life. "Melanie!" Eliana and Jade's faces appeared before me, both with puffy, red eyes.

I mustered a weak smile.

"What's up..."

My voice sounded terrible, like a broken horn, so I quickly shut up.

Eliana burst into tears.

"Damn it, Clyde, that idiot, how could he do this?"

"Why didn't someone just knock him out cold? Or better yet, knock some sense into him!"

"He went too far, your baby, you..."

Eliana's sobs grew louder, while Jade, who was on the verge of tears, forcibly held them back.

She gripped my hand tightly, "Are you feeling alright anywhere? Does your stomach hurt? Got any

cravings? I'll get you whatever you

want." evel.

I gently squeezed her hand in response, shaking my head.

"This child was never meant to be kept. You both know my situation, right?"

"It was inevitable. It's alright; I've come to terms with it a long time ago."

Holding both their hands, I tried to soothe them.

But Eliana's crying only grew louder, eventually drawing Warren back in.

"Eliana, enough is enough. Anyone would think you're the one with a serious illness!"

He walked over expressionlessly, checked my IV, and took my temperature.

"You've got a slight fever. Your body's like an old bike at this point; barely running and about to fall apart."

"This miscarriage took a toll on your body, lost a lot of blood..."

"Where's the beef stew? Eliana, stop crying."

Eliana reluctantly brought the stew over, its aroma filled with

ingredients and a hint of het

herbs, but I just shook my

"Try to have some liquid nourishment first; it's good for you."

"We'll hold off on the radiation and chemotherapy for now, see h things

go, and you'll need to stenet

hospital."

in

Warren rambled on more than he ever had before.

Just then, Vinson Russell pushed the door open.

"Are you okay?"