Zoe was roused from sleep by pain.
A fine sheen of sweat coated her forehead, and the agony emanating from her stomach nearly made her swoon.
Struggling, she clutched her abdomen and sat up, grabbing her phone to check the time...and if he had called back.
It was noon.
Her phone remained eerily silent, save for a lone advertisement message, nothing more.
Zoe had called Evan multiple times a day, starting with gentle reminders that he wouldn't come home tonight. As more calls came in, his tone grew increasingly impatient until he ceased answering altogether.
Tears welled up in her defeated eyes as she put down the phone and got out of bed.
Her stomach hurt so much she could barely straighten.
She poured out medicine from the bottle on her bedside table and swallowed it down with the leftover cold water from yesterday.
Brushing her teeth, Zoe gazed at the blue and pink couple towels, the blue toothbrush cup, and her own pink toothbrush on the bathroom counter.
They had enthusiastically bought these together at first, but later...she replaced them alone every month.
Evan’s toiletries must have gone unused for a month now, for today was the 1st.
Who would use them when he didn't come home?
The distinct waves of pain in her stomach reminded her that she had chosen the wrong person.
She hadn't forgotten the day they registered their marriage, when he vowed to love her for life – and this was only eight years in.
Three years of dating, five years of marriage.
Looking at her pale reflection in the mirror, her reddened eyes couldn't get any redder.
The pain showed no sign of easing.
Zoe hunched over, struggling to gather herself.
Forcing herself upright, she headed out to hail a taxi to the hospital.
Standing roadside, several taxis passed her by without a pause.
Her face was too pale, resembling someone on the brink of death.
Zoe couldn't hold on any longer and crouched down.
"Miss, where are you going?" a voice called from above.
Zoe looked up. The driver was startled and hurriedly opened the car door, stepping out to ask, "Are you feeling unwell?"
This small show of concern brought a sting to her nose, and she nodded.
"Hurry up, get in." The female driver opened the rear door and helped her up.
Settling in the back seat, she curled up.
The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror and sighed, "In this big city, one must take care of oneself when alone."
She assumed Zoe was an independent soul trying to make it on her own.
Zoe's lips twitched, but she said nothing.
In this bustling metropolis with its fast pace lifestyle, it was common to see people striving for success.
When she and Evan first arrived, they were similarly busy, yet felt fulfilled and happy.
"Sigh..." The driver sighed again, looking at Zoe with sympathy. "Dear, take good care of yourself. As parents, my daughter is probably your age. She always tells me how great things are on the phone, but I know better than anyone how tough it is out there..."
She prattled on, and under normal circumstances, Zoe might have chatted with her, but now, the pain left her speechless.
"Rest for a while. I'll wake you when we get there."
She closed her eyes at the cue, leaning against the window, every pore seeming to throb with pain.
Cold sweat continued to bead.
Zoe's mind went blank, gradually filled with his face—his youthful shyness, the certainty at their wedding, and the recent coldness.
He had promised a lifetime.
How could he just stop loving her?
Tears slipped out, whether from pain or something else, she wasn't sure.
