The Untold Truth \ Ateez

When Tragedy Struck

Flashback: The joy that had filled the room just moments before shattered like glass as Tate gasped in pain. All eyes turned toward her as she clutched her abdomen, her face drained of color. The celebration, filled with laughter and warmth, ended abruptly, the air thick with tension.

"Tate?" Hongjoong's voice cut through the silence, filled with concern as he reached out to steady her. His heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of fear and confusion coursing through him. "What's wrong?"

Tate's breath was ragged; each inhaled a struggle as she tried to make sense of the searing pain that radiated through her body. Her vision swam, dark spots dancing before her eyes, and she felt like the ground was slipping away. "I... I don't know," she managed to whisper, her voice barely audible. "Something's wrong..."

The midwife, enjoying the celebration with the rest, was by Tate's side instantly. Her hands moved with practiced precision, feeling for any signs of distress. As she pressed gently on Tate's abdomen, her expression grew more serious, her brow furrowing in concern.

"She's hemorrhaging," the midwife announced, her voice calm but filled with urgency. She turned to Hongjoong, her eyes locking with his. "We need to stop the bleeding now."

Hongjoong's blood ran cold at the midwife's words. The fear gnawing at the edges of his mind now surged forward, overwhelming him. He could feel his heart racing, each beat echoing in his ears like a drum. He looked down at Tate, her skin pale and clammy, her breaths coming in short, shallow gasps. This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not after everything they had been through.

"Tate, stay with me," Hongjoong pleaded, his voice thick with desperation as he gripped her hand tightly. He could feel the warmth of her skin, but it was quickly cooling, which terrified him. "Please, stay with me. Please don't leave me now. Please..."

Tate tried to focus on Hongjoong's voice, cling to it like a lifeline in the storm within her. But the pain was too intense, overwhelming her senses and dragging her down into the darkness. She could feel her grip on reality slipping, the world around her growing distant and faint. In the back of her mind, she could hear the soft cries of her newborn daughters, their voices like tiny bells ringing in the distance.

But even that sound was fading, drowned out by the pounding in her head and the roaring in her ears. She wanted to reach out, touch them, hold them close, and never let go. But her arms felt heavy as if weighed down by lead, and her strength waned.

Hongjoong's voice was the last thing she heard before everything went black, a desperate, anguished cry that tore at her heart. She wanted to tell him that she loved him, that she was sorry, but the words wouldn't come. All she could do was let the darkness take her, the world slipping away as her consciousness faded.

Present: The room was a whirlwind of activity as the midwife and the other attendants worked frantically to stop the bleeding. Blood soaked the sheets, staining them a deep crimson, and the smell of it filled the air, sharp and metallic. The midwife's hands were steady as she applied pressure, her mind focused on the task. But even she knew how precarious the situation was.

Hongjoong refused to leave Tate's side, his eyes never leaving her face. He could feel the tears welling up in his eyes, but he blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. He had to be strong for Tate and their daughters. But the fear, the bone-deep terror that he might lose her, was suffocating. He couldn't imagine a life without her and bear the thought of raising their children alone.

Minutes felt like hours as the midwife worked, her hands moving with a speed and precision born of years of experience. But no matter how hard she tried, the bleeding wouldn't stop. It was as if Tate's body was giving up, surrendering to the trauma and exhaustion that had been building up for months.