You Took Life From Me

The blood

I sat in the bathtub, the warm water doing nothing to soothe the cold ache in my chest. My tears mixed with the bathwater as I tried to muffle my sobs, not wanting anyone to hear me. But the pain was too much. I felt like I was drowning, not in the water, but in my own emotions.

A soft knock on the bathroom door jolted me out of my despair. I quickly wiped my face, trying to pull myself together.

"Thea? It's Miriam," came the concerned voice from the other side. "Are you alright? I heard crying."

I hesitated, my heart racing as I tried to compose myself. "I'm fine, Miriam," I lied, my voice trembling despite my best efforts. "Just... just need a moment alone."

There was a pause, and I knew she wasn't buying it. Miriam had always been able to see right through me.

"Thea, I'm coming in," she said firmly, and before I could protest, the door creaked open. She stepped inside, her eyes immediately finding mine, swollen and red from crying. She frowned, her expression full of worry and something like frustration.

"What's really going on?" she asked, her voice gentle but insistent.

I looked down at the water, the words stuck in my throat. My hands trembled as I tried to form a response. Finally, I looked up at her, my voice barely a whisper.

"Do you remember... when Dahlia walked in on Henry and me?"

Miriam's face softened, and she nodded, sitting down on the edge of the tub. "Yes, I remember."

I took a deep breath, the weight of the truth pressing down on me. "That was the night another baby was conceived."

Miriam's eyes widened in shock, and she let out a small gasp. "Thea..." she began, but words seemed to fail her as she reached out to grasp my hand.

I squeezed her hand back, trying to find some comfort in her presence. "I didn't want it, Miriam," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I didn't want another baby. Not like this."

She squeezed my hand tighter, her eyes filling with tears as she shook her head. "Oh, Thea..."

The reality of my situation came crashing down on me, and I couldn't hold back the sobs any longer. Miriam pulled me into a hug, holding me as I cried against her shoulder, the warm water now growing cold around me.

I pulled away from Miriam slightly, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. The words tumbled out of me before I could stop them, raw and full of fear.

"Miriam, if Henry finds out... if he knows I'm pregnant, he's going to make me keep it," I said, my voice trembling. "And I'll have to bring another child into this... into this mess."

Miriam's face paled, and she looked at me with a mixture of horror and pity. "Thea, no..."

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. "I think he got me pregnant on purpose," I continued, my voice dropping to a whisper. "Because Dahlia didn't turn out like he wanted. She didn't come out looking white, and that's the only reason he married me. To breed out what he sees as... as a flaw."

Miriam's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock and sorrow. "Thea, that's... that's monstrous," she whispered, her voice shaking.

"It is," I agreed, my voice barely audible. "But it's the truth. He's been so angry with me, with Dahlia... and now, he thinks another baby will fix it. Will fix us."

Miriam shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Oh, Thea, you can't let him do this to you. To another child."

I nodded, feeling utterly helpless. "But what can I do, Miriam? He has all the power. If I run, he'll find me. He'll say I kidnapped a white baby..."