Splintered Heart

It was only when his stomach had begun to round that James realized exactly what was happening to him. He had not even suspected it when the nausea began, soon followed by abnormal exhaustion. James was a busy man, with always some mission to do out at sea or some reports awaiting his revision and signature. His body had been giving him signs, loud and clear, from the very beginning. And James had ignored them all save for the most evident sign.