Patience Heart

On the Way to the Honeymoon

Adam and I had finished breakfast and now found ourselves lingering in the hotel lounge, enjoying the peaceful scenery outside. The lush greenery of the hotel garden stretched out before us, the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze creating a soothing ambiance. It felt like we were in our own little bubble, away from the world, where nothing could disturb the tranquility of this moment.

We talked about everything and nothing, our voices soft and filled with the easy comfort of being together. Adam's arm was draped around my shoulders, and I leaned into him, feeling the steady beat of his heart against my cheek. It was moments like these that made everything feel right, like we were exactly where we were supposed to be.

"I can't believe we're finally married," Adam said, his voice tinged with disbelief as if he still couldn't wrap his mind around it. "It feels like a dream."

I smiled, my heart swelling with affection for him. "It does. But it's a beautiful dream, one that I never want to wake up from."

We sat there for a while longer, enjoying the serenity before we knew it was time to check out. Our honeymoon awaited, a private villa in Bandung where we could escape for a few days and just be together. We had chosen Bandung because it was close, and I was still in the early stages of pregnancy, so minimizing flights was important. Adam had also only taken three days off work because of an important project, so this was the perfect compromise.

As we made our way to the front desk to check out, we bumped into our parents and friends who had stayed overnight after the wedding. There were hugs and goodbyes, promises to catch up soon, and then, just as we were about to leave, my mother leaned in with a teasing glint in her eye.

"So, how was your first night as a married couple?" she asked, her voice dripping with playful curiosity.

I felt my cheeks flush with heat, and I glanced at Adam, who looked equally flustered. "Mom!" I protested, trying to laugh it off, but I could feel the embarrassment rising within me.

Adam cleared his throat, looking anywhere but at my mother. "It was... great," he managed to say, his voice a little strained. I could see the tips of his ears turning red, and I bit my lip to stifle a giggle.

"Just make sure you take care of my daughter," my mom added with a wink, before finally letting us go.

We hurried to the car, eager to escape the teasing, and soon we were on the road, heading toward our honeymoon destination. The sun glinted off the highway, and I found myself feeling relaxed as we drove. The rhythmic hum of the car and the gentle sway of the road lulled me into a light sleep.

But then, a sudden sharp cramp jolted me awake. My hand instinctively went to my stomach, a wave of discomfort washing over me. I shifted in my seat, trying to find a more comfortable position, but the cramp persisted, growing more intense with each passing moment.

"Adam..." I said, my voice tight with discomfort. "I think we need to stop at the next rest area. I'm feeling... something."

Adam glanced at me, concern etched on his face. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"I don't know... I just... It hurts," I admitted, my voice shaky as another cramp hit me, harder this time. I winced, trying to breathe through the pain, but it was becoming unbearable.

The rest area seemed too far away, and before we could find one, the cramp intensified, twisting my stomach into knots. I groaned, clutching my abdomen as the pain radiated through me.

"Adam, it's getting worse... I think... we need to find a hospital."

Panic flashed across Adam's face, but he nodded quickly, his hands gripping the steering wheel tighter. "Hold on, Viola. I'll find the nearest exit. We'll get you to the hospital."

The next few minutes felt like an eternity. The pain in my stomach was relentless, and I couldn't help but fear the worst. What if something was wrong with the baby? The thought clawed at me, filling me with a dread that made my heart race. Tears welled up in my eyes as I tried to keep my composure, but the fear was overwhelming.

By the time we reached the hospital, I was in full-blown panic mode. Adam helped me out of the car, his face pale with worry as he supported me inside. The emergency room was a blur of activity, doctors and nurses moving quickly to assess my condition. All I could think about was the baby—the life growing inside me that I was terrified of losing.

As I lay on the examination table, tears streamed down my face. The pain was less intense now, but the fear remained. I clung to Adam's hand, my fingers digging into his skin as I tried to hold on to something—anything—that could keep me grounded.

"Please... please let the baby be okay," I whispered, my voice breaking with emotion. I couldn't bear the thought of losing this baby, of losing the future we had only just begun to imagine.

Adam stood by my side, his face etched with guilt and helplessness. He stroked my hair, his touch gentle but trembling. "Viola... I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I should've... I should've been more careful..."

"No, Adam... don't say that," I managed to reply through my tears. "It's not your fault..."

But I could see the torment in his eyes, the way he blamed himself for everything that was happening. It broke my heart to see him like this, but I was too overwhelmed by my own fear and pain to comfort him.

The doctor finally arrived, performing the necessary checks and scans. The room was silent except for the sound of my own ragged breathing. Each second felt like an eternity, stretching out in agonizing uncertainty. I stared at the ceiling, silently pleading for everything to be okay.

When the doctor finally spoke, his voice was calm and reassuring. "The baby is fine," he said, and I felt a flood of relief wash over me, though I was still trembling. "The cramping is due to stress, not a miscarriage. But you need to take it easy, Viola. No strenuous activities, and you should delay any long journeys for now."

I nodded, barely able to process his words through the haze of emotion. The baby was okay. The baby was okay.

Adam squeezed my hand, and I turned to look at him, seeing the relief mirrored in his eyes. But beneath that relief, there was still guilt, still a lingering sense of responsibility that I knew he couldn't shake.

"We'll cancel the honeymoon," Adam said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "You need to rest. That's all that matters right now."

I nodded again, too exhausted to argue. All I wanted was to go home, to lie down and hold onto the knowledge that our baby was safe. The excitement of the honeymoon, the plans we had made—they all seemed so distant now, overshadowed by the sheer weight of what had just happened.

As we left the hospital and got back into the car, the drive home felt like the longest journey of our lives. The silence between us was heavy, filled with unspoken thoughts and emotions. I stared out the window, watching the landscape pass by in a blur, my mind replaying the events of the past few hours over and over again.

Adam kept glancing at me, his eyes filled with worry, but neither of us spoke. There was nothing to say. The fear and relief, the guilt and the gratitude—it all mingled together in a confusing swirl of emotions that neither of us could put into words.

When we finally reached home, it felt like we had been gone for days instead of hours. Adam helped me inside, his movements careful and tender as if I were made of glass. He led me to the bedroom, where I collapsed onto the bed, feeling utterly drained.

He sat beside me, his hand resting on my back as I curled up on my side, my arms cradling my stomach protectively. "Viola... I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I never wanted this to happen. I just want you to be safe... both of you."

I reached out to him, my fingers finding his, and squeezed gently. "We're okay, Adam," I whispered back. "We're going to be okay."

But even as I said the words, I couldn't shake the lingering fear, the nagging worry that something could still go wrong. The journey home might have ended, but the uncertainty and challenges of our new life together were only just beginning. And all we could do was face them, hand in hand, hoping that our love would be strong enough to carry us through.