Two Frozen Embryos, One Divorce

Chapter 4

That afternoon, Madeline asked to meet with me.

A ring was already on her ring finger.

After we sat down, she skipped the small talk and pushed the confirmation form toward me.

The section for the man's signature was still blank.

"I'm getting married next month. I don't plan to keep these two embryos anymore."

I ran my fingers along the edge of the document.

"Why has he refused to sign all this time?"

Madeline was silent for a moment.

"The year we divorced, I brought it up first. He said I had just finished surgery and that I shouldn't rush into anything."

She lowered her head and slowly turned the cup in her hands.

"I was foolish back then too. When he refused to sign, I thought it was because he couldn't let go of me."

I looked at her.

Madeline gave a faint, bitter smile.

"So I kept dragging it out too. Later, I started dating someone else and got engaged, but he never even said a word to stop me. That was when I realized things weren't what I thought they were."

"Then what was it?"

"I don't know either."

She placed the pen on the document.

"But I don't want to keep preserving this part of the past with him anymore."

The bell above the door rang.

Julian walked in quickly.

The moment he saw the documents on the table, his expression darkened.

"What are you doing meeting with Annie?"

Madeline pushed the pen toward him.

"Sign it. It expires tonight."

Julian didn't sit down.

"Does it have to be today? It's been 7 years. What difference will a few more months make?"

Madeline looked up.

"The difference is that I'm getting married. Julian, I don't want to enter my next marriage carrying a part of my life that was never finished."

He said nothing.

I looked at him.

"Sign it."

Julian looked away.

"Annie, this isn't as simple as you think."

"What isn't simple?"

"They've been there for 7 years."

"So?"

His palm pressed against the edge of the table.

"Don't force me."

I gently placed the pen in front of him.

"Madeline has already signed. No one is forcing you to keep preserving them. The only person who doesn't want to let go now is you."

Julian's jaw tightened little by little.

"You think I can't let go of Madeline?"

He didn't answer.

"Or is it because you can't let go of Peanut and Bean?"

"Anna."

"You kept saying they were just two embryos, didn't you? If they weren't children, why haven't you been willing to give them up after 7 years?"

Julian suddenly looked up.

"Because they're my children too!"

The entire room fell silent.

Even Madeline froze.

Julian reached out, wanting to grab my hand.

"Annie, what I just—"

I took a step back.

His hand closed around empty air.

He stood there, stunned.

"Don't explain. I already heard you."

After I returned home, I walked to the refrigerator.

A 5-year plan that had been hanging there for 3 years was stuck on the door.

Travel.

A new house.

Savings.

The final line read: Start trying for a baby when Julian is ready.

The year written above it had already been changed three times.

When Julian followed me inside, I was crossing out that sentence with a pen.

"What are you doing?"

I didn't look up.

Then I crossed out his name as well.

"Updating the plan."

His face instantly turned pale.

I folded the paper and threw it into the trash.

"Julian, I'm not going to wait for you to become a father anymore."