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In the morning, Amna woke up feeling an unusual heaviness in her abdomen. As she tried to sit up, a wave of pain washed over her, sharper and more intense than anything she had felt before. She instinctively placed her hands on her belly, trying to understand what was happening. The pain intensified, and when she stood up from bed, she felt warm liquid trickling down her legs.
In a daze, she managed to make her way to the bathroom, leaving a trail of blood behind her.
With trembling hands, she raised her dress and slid down her underwear and saw blood, a lot of it, including clots. Her heart pounded in her chest, and a cold sweat broke out on her forehead.
"Aslam!" she screamed.
She walked back to the room with trembling legs, barely able to support her weight, and shouted his name again.
Aslam rushed in, one glance at the blood staining her night dress and the trails she had left behind and panic set in but he tried to remain calm. He reached out to steady her, his hands shaking as he gripped her shoulders.
"Amna, what's happening? Is it your period? Is this normal? Are you okay?" His voice was laced with panic, his eyes wide with fear.
Amna clung to him, her body trembling. "I don't knowww. I've had cramps since yesterday morning and when I woke up the pain was worse, and then... the blood. It's too much," She explained, her voice quivering.
Aslam's mind raced as he tried to process what was happening. "We need to get you to the hospital. Now!"
He helped her back to the bathroom and helped her clean up quickly then grabbed an abaya from the closet and helped her into it. He carried her downstairs and called housekeeper to clean the room and bathroom before they returned.
At the hospital, she was wheeled to the examination room and Aslam was instructed to wait outside.
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Finally, a doctor emerged from the examination room. "Mr. Shettima, I'm so sorry, your wife is experiencing a miscarriage."
"Is she alright, doctor?" He asked.
"She is stable."
Aslam's knees nearly buckled with relief. "Thank you, doctor. Can I see her?" he asked.
The doctor nodded. "Yes, we can discuss possible treatments with you two when she is ready."
Aslam entered the room cautiously, his heart aching at the sight of Amna lying in the hospital bed, her face pale and her eyes closed. He sat beside her, taking her hand in his and pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles which made her start sobbing.
"Shhh, it's alright." He tried to calm her down.
When her sobs subsided, as she lay in the hospital bed, the smell of the hospital room filled her nostrils, it wasn't the typical sterile smell yet she hated it. Aslam sat beside her, holding her hand, his face etched with a deep worry while patting her hair with the other.
"I didn't know," she finally whispered, her voice cracking. "I didn't even know I was pregnant. How could I not know? I didn't even realize I've missed my period."
Aslam's eyes filled with tears. "It's not your fault, love. Sometimes these things happen, and we have no control over them."
Amna shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I should have known. I should have... I should have taken better care of myself. I should have known something was wrong."
