Chapter 1
Seraphina's voice trembled with tears.
"I didn't mean to. I had no idea the pressure cooker would explode..."
"No one's blaming you," Callahan said gently.
"Elara, are you... are you okay?" Seraphina asked softly.
I watched her overwrought performance in silence.
"I'm not dead."
Seraphina seemed to relax slightly, then let out a low, choked sob.
"Did the baby make it?"
I stared at her and said calmly, "The baby is gone."
Seraphina went quiet for a few seconds, then her crying grew louder.
"I'm so sorry, Callahan. This is all my fault. I really didn't mean for this to happen."
Callahan's voice softened immediately.
"This isn't your fault. Just take care of yourself first."
"But Elara must hate me now," Seraphina said tearfully.
"She's emotionally unstable right now. I'll handle it," Callahan replied.
I watched him with his back to me, comforting Seraphina with patient, gentle words. It was the voice that had once been the most familiar sound in my world.
After my miscarriage, the pain kept me awake all night, and all he'd said was, "Bear with it. The doctors will take care of it."
But when Seraphina cried over her mistake, he soothed her like a child, promising over and over that no one would blame her.
After a long while, Callahan walked Seraphina out.
When he turned back around, his expression returned to calm.
"Your mom asked me to make chicken soup. I'll bring it over in a bit."
"What about Mom? Isn't she coming?"
Callahan avoided my gaze.
"Seraphina's shaken up. She doesn't want to be alone."
I closed my eyes slowly.
"Then Mom can stay with her."
Callahan came to the bedside and reached out to tuck the blanket around me.
"Don't overthink it. You can have another child later."
The moment his fingers touched me, I shifted away.
"I don't want to hear it."
"Elara..."
I turned toward the window.
"Callahan, now that the baby's gone, are you relieved?"
His face darkened immediately.
"What are you talking about?" Callahan asked, his expression darkening.
"Seraphina said she wouldn't bother us anymore. Didn't you always want me to stop thinking about quitting my job because of the pregnancy, and not to put all my energy into the baby?" I asked.
"I was only worried about your health," Callahan said defensively.
"Were you worried about me, or worried the baby would hold you back?" I asked quietly.
Callahan's brow furrowed, and he said flatly, "I don't want to fight with you."
I turned over, my back to him.
Callahan stood by the bed, looking like he wanted to say something more, but his phone lit up again with a message from Seraphina.
Seraphina: Callahan, I'm scared. Can you come stay with me?
Callahan stared at the screen for a few seconds, then picked up his jacket.
"I have to go. I'll be back soon."
"Go ahead."
His steps faltered, and he said, "Elara, don't read too much into this."
I kept my eyes on the window without answering.
A nurse wheeled a cart into the room and placed my personal belongings on the nightstand.
"These were recovered from the fire. The firefighters said they were yours."
I opened the bag to find a charred nightgown, a shattered phone, and a pair of dust-covered earrings.
The earrings were warped, and the matching bracelet was no longer on my wrist.
I suddenly remembered that before the fire, my mother had asked me where I'd put the silver bracelet.
After the nurse left, I called my mother.
"Mom, where's the bracelet?"
There was a pause on the other end.
"Seraphina liked it, so I told Callahan to let her wear it for a few days."
I laughed softly and said, "You two help yourselves to my things as if they already belong to you."
"Elara, it's just a bracelet."
"Yeah."
I hung up and tossed the earrings into the trash.
"That's right. Just a bracelet."
In that moment, I realized that the baby was gone. And some things went with her.
