Crestfallen [COMPLETED]

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ - 24

Alex

I step out of a hospital room, my mind preoccupied with the scheduled operations ahead of me. 
I walk down the corridor towards my cabin, and my steps falter.

My gaze lands on a scene that grips my attention—a pregnant woman sitting on a bench, a young boy by her side, and a man crouched beside them.

I watch as the man holds the little boy's hands, whispering something that makes the child's face light up with a smile.

The pregnant woman strokes her son's hair with an affectionate gesture, and the man helps her rise from the bench. Their smiles so genuine, lost in their little world.

They need no one else; they have each other—a beautiful, complete family.

This sight should radiate warmth but that I can't help feel envy.

It twists something within me. Longing and anger.

A painful realization of what could have been.

That could have been Joanna and me. If only things hadn't turned out the way they did.

Anger bubbles within me as I remember the truth. The fact that she had lied to me. She had aborted our child without even letting me know.

The child I never knew existed until it was too late. The hurt intensifies within me.

Father, that word sends a wave of pain through me. The idea of being a father, of having a child with Joanna, is a wound that refuses to heal.

Our unborn baby's existence was snuffed out before I even had a chance to know about it.

The anger and sadness I feel, that I can't shake off.

With a heavy sigh, I force myself to move, walking towards my cabin.

The ache in my chest persists though.

But I bury the emotions deep within me, focusing on the tasks that demand my attention.

It's the only way I know how to keep moving forward, even though the pain of what's lost lingers like a shadow over my heart.

.................................................................

My mind drifts back to a memory .

Christmas Eve, six years ago.

When Joanna and I were still in the blossoming stages of our relationship, when we had just confessed our love for each other.

That evening, I had taken her to meet my elder sister, Nicole.

In a way, Nicole had been the guardian, the true family that had been there for me.
Our parents' academic pursuits had kept them busy. But my elder sister was there, in every stage of my life. Supportive and the anchor I still hold onto.

Joanna and Nicole exchanged smiles, something shifted within me, warmth.

As I watched two of the most important women in my life connect and bond.

They spoke, laughed, teased, and their easy camaraderie made my heart swell with joy.

I found a moment alone with my sister, and a playful grin crossed my lips.

"Remind me again how did you snatch her up?" Nicole teased, her eyes dancing with mirth.

I chuckled huskily, my hands finding their place on her shoulder.

"So you approve?" I asked.

"Of course, she's lovely," Nicole replied without hesitation, her tone sincere.

"Even Mom and Dad, who have disapproved of all our past relationships, that includes my husband Nathan too, would actually like her."

Nicole's voice softened as she leaned in closer, her gaze holding a warm look.

"She's studying law at New York University. Brainy check," she murmured.

"So Mom and Dad's approval. Check. They would like nothing more than another intellectual in the family."

A smile tugged at my lips, mirroring her sentiment.

Nicole's hand found mine, her touch gentle and reassuring.

"I am so happy for you, Al," she said, her eyes reflecting of genuine happiness.

"She's really lovely."

"She is," I agreed with her, the words carrying a depth of emotion.

Nicole's gaze held mine, a knowing glint in her eyes.
"And she makes you happy," she stated simply, her words resonating deeply.

A genuine smile graced my lips, my heart echoing her sentiment.

"She does," I affirmed, my voice soft yet filled with unwavering certainty.

I felt this sense of validation, knowing that the woman I loved had earned the approval and admiration of someone who meant the world to me.

................................................................

As I walk towards my car, my mind drifts back to a memory that is bittersweet.

It was the evening we broke the news of our engagement to Nicole and Nathan. As their loud cheers and warm congratulations filled the room.

We all laughed and talked about the upcoming journey of marriage, sharing anecdotes and dreams.

Nicole brought up the topic of children teasingly and for a brief moment, I saw some tension ripple through Joanna, as her hand withdrew from mine.

I noticed her stiffen slightly, her gaze momentarily distant as she looked away.

It was a small flicker, almost imperceptible to anyone else, but I had come to understand her nuances, her unspoken emotions.

In that moment, as we sat together and laughed with my family.

I made a silent promise to myself.

I would wait for her, for us, in our marriage. I understood that everyone's timeline was different, and if it took time for Joanna to come to terms with something.

I was willing to wait. In everything.

I wanted our paths to align naturally, for her to want the same things when she was ready.

And so, I waited. I never pushed the topic of kids, never rushed her into a decision she wasn't prepared for.

But I could have never foreseen the pain that awaited me.

The heartache of discovering the truth about the abortion and the lies that had been kept from me.

The weight of the loss, the feeling of betrayal, it all crashes over me like a tidal wave, engulfing my chest in a searing ache.

As I approach my car and begin the drive back home, the heaviness in my heart lingers.