At first, my coworkers whispered about it behind my back. But soon, they didn’t bother hiding it. They told me to my face that Hadden and Cynthia were a perfect match. They criticized me, saying I was not only unprofessional but also petty, interfering with Hadden’s work as her attending physician.
I couldn’t bear the pain anymore. The contractions were relentless, and I was desperate to get out of that contaminated ward. “Please,” I begged, “take me out of here.”
But no one listened. Just outside the ward, my legs gave out, and I collapsed to the ground.
“Nydia, you weren’t even at the nurse’s station when we arrived. So how come you'll be infected by the virus? Drop the act now! Do you think we’re stupid?”
In their eyes, I was nothing but a jealous, vindictive woman.
But soon, Hadden approached me in his hazmat suit. I thought, foolishly, that he might offer me some kindness. But I was wrong.
As I reached out to grab the hem of his pants, he coldly pulled back his foot and kicked me over. I fell backward and warm fluid quickly pooled beneath me as I lay there helplessly.
But despite that, he didn’t care. Not about me, not about our baby.