ANASTASIA


    I dropped to the floor of the driveway as I watched his car drive off into the night.


    My heart tightened in my chest and I gripped it, hoping to stop it from wrenching itself. My head ached as tears slowly rolled down my cheeks. At first it was just a brief gasps as I tried to hold myself steady but it soon turned into loud sobs.


    I was thankful for the darkness of the night that cloaked me as I cried over my marraige that was starting to fall apart, but what I mourned more was our friendship. The beautiful selfless friendship I had with my husband.


    Dennis, no matter how upset he was, has never walked out on me. He has never raised his voice at me. He never even wants to see me cry.


    I knew I was on the v


    excrutiating pain I fel.


    of losing my friend but I had no idea what to do. All I could do was let out this ny chest through the endless tears that ran down my cheeks.


    Multiple cars passed by but I didn''t care. I just stared at those cars, wishing one of them was Dennis''. I sat there for a long time and wailed until I couldn''t make any sound again. I looked ahead but I could see nothing. My tears had clouded my vision. I sat there, motionless, and just let the hot tears roll down my cheeks.


    Finally, when the hoots of owls and cries of crickets filled the night, I dragged myself up and trudged to the door. My hands trembled as my fingers wrapped around the doorknob and I pushed it open. Once inside, I staggered up the stairs to our room. Then I walked to the bed and slowly went under the duvet.


    :


    If it wasn''t for Amie and the baby in me, I wouldn''t have bothered to stand up from bed this morning. My own body felt heavy fir me and my head ached terribly. The best option was to stay in bed all day. But I dragged myself from the bed and took a longzy bath. Sluggishly, I donned myself in a suit pant and zer.


    I let out a heavy breath as I looked in the mirror. Days like these, when you were drained of energy and had no care in the world, are the best days to go make-up free but I couldn''t. My eye were swollen from crying all night. One look at my fave and everyone would be able to tell that I''d cried for a long while. I couldn''t let Amie see me like this.


    I grabbed my concealer and smeared arge amount on my face until my eye bags dissapeared.


    With a heavy heart, I grabbed my bag from the couch, took onest look at the room and made my way downstairs.


    Just as I opened the front door, I came face to face with Aiden, his hand raised.


    My gaze slowly went from his face to his raised hand and back to his face.


    "You were going to knock?" I shook my head. That was the wrong question. "What are you doing here?"


    A small smile marred his lips as he dropped his hands to his side and took a step back. "I was just passing by," he briefly nced back. I followed his gaze to the car parked by the side of the road. "So I


    thought to stop by."


    Iwanted to inquire how he knew I lived here but it didn''t matter. What mattered was that what he did was


    wrong.


    So I told him, "Thank you but there''s no need for that," I told him as I stepped out of the house and closed the door behind me. I locked the door and turned back to him.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    "Your gesture might seem honest but it wouldn''t be perceived well by either of our spouses. It''s not appropriate."


    He nodded. "Of course." He stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Is Dennis home?"


    I turned to him and blinked. I wanted to ask him if he was used to locking his wife in their home. Perhaps,


    it was a normal urrence to him and that was why he didn''t find it dumb to ask if Dennis was home just after he watched me lock the door. Would I lock my husband in the house?!


    I


    But I decided against it. means well. He''s just trying to make things less awkward between us.


    "He isn''t home."


    And was thrown back into wondering where Dennis could be. All night, as I sobbed and whimpered, I worried where he''d be.


    Did he get involved in an ident? I shook my head. No. If he did, I would have been called from the hospital by now. "Ana?"


    I blinked and focused my gaze on Aiden. "Yes?" I asked, flustered. "I didn''t get that."


    For the briefest second, his gaze searched mine. "I asked if you''re headed out?" He finally said, his gaze going over my form. "Yes."


    He nodded again, hesitating. "Where? Maybe I''m going the same way, I could drop you off."


    "Oh, there''s no need for that. I''m actually going for my prenatal appointment."


    His brows rose up, "Really? Perfect then. Let me take you, I can drop by to say hi to Amie too."


    I forced a smile. My husband should be the one going to a prenatal appointment with me, not my daughter''s father.


    "It''s okay, Aiden. You don''t have to. My ride will be here in a few minutes," I lied. I really didn''t want another issue that would cause a fight between Dennis and I.


    He sighed. "Come on, Ana. Allow me. We''d agreed to be part of the process wholly when ites to the child." He shrugged, seeming a bit exasperated, "I mean, you don''t just expect me to put a baby in you and go MIA, do you?" I pressed my lips together and smoothed my brows. Why did he say it like we had sex or something?


    "I know, but-"


    "Come on, Ana," his voice softened even more as he took a step forward. "Okay, just this once."