Buried Truths, Burning Desires

Malissa's POV - A Moment of Joy and Betrayal Pain throbbed in my back. The scent of antiseptic burned my nose. My body ached as though I had been trampled. I tried to move, but a sharp sting in my lower back stopped me. A nurse entered; her warm brown eyes soft with reassurance. "No, ma'am. Don't try to sit up just yet. You need to rest." I swallowed; my throat parched. "Where am I? What happened?" She offered me a gentle smile. "Let's wait for the doctor." Something in her demeanor gave me hope. If the news was bad, wouldn't she look graver? My heart pounded, my mind scrambling to recall why I was here. The last thing I remembered was… My breath caught. I had been on my way home. To George. The door swung open, and the doctor walked in, holding a clipboard. "Mrs. Kings," he said, his voice calm but firm, "you're pregnant." My lips parted. "I, what?" "You're having twins," he continued with a broad smile. "Two healthy boys." Tears blurred my vision as warmth spread through my chest. This was a dream I had nurtured for years. George and I had always talked about children, how he wanted to coach our sons in soccer, and how I dreamed of dressing them in matching outfits. This was our dream come true. A dream I couldn't wait to share with him. "Do you want anything?" The doctor rescues me once again from my thoughts, making me shiver. "My phone?" I questioned the specialist. "Gracious right." He gave it right to me. I tried calling George's phone. No response. I tried Cassy next. Her phone was off. "Who brought me here?" I asked, befuddled about how I got to the hospital in the first place. The nurse hesitated. "Your sister brought you here. She said she was driving you home when you collapsed." I frowned. That was… odd. If she was so concerned, why wasn't she here now? "In this way, she is familiar with the information?" I asked the Doctor and he gestured in confirmation while leaving the ward. A flicker of annoyance surfaced. Where was she? Had she told everyone? Was she planning some grand surprise at home? My sister was nothing if not dramatic. Still, I shook off my unease. Tonight would be special. I would surprise George myself. I'd see his face light up, feel his arms around me, hear his whispered promises of forever. I called the nurse. "I need to go home." "You're not fit to leave yet." "But I have to see my husband," I insisted, my voice urgent. "Please. Call the doctor." Minutes later, the doctor returned, and seeing he had zero control over me, he said; "I can discharge you, but only if one of our staff drives you home," his expression wary. "That's fine," I said quickly. I couldn't wait another second. The drive home felt endless. My fingers drummed against my thigh as my thoughts raced. Would George cry when he found out? Would he lift me in his arms and twirl me around like in the movies? I smiled at the thought. "We're here," the driver announced. My heart pounded as I stepped out. The house stood tall, warm light spilling from the windows. My home. My sanctuary. I called George again. Still no answer. I climbed the stairs, my excitement bubbling over. But just as I reached the landing, I heard it. A soft moan. I froze. My smile faltered. Maybe I had imagined it. Then I heard it again. Louder this time. A voice I knew better than my own. George. My legs felt like lead. My pulse pounded in my ears as I edged closer to our bedroom door. My hands trembled as I reached for the knob. The door was slightly ajar. Through the gap, I saw movement. Skin against skin. The soft hum of whispered names. My stomach twisted violently. My chest caved in on itself. Then, I heard her voice. "No, no. Your wife? Where is she?" "I don't care. None of my business," George answered, his tone careless, detached. A part of me shattered at that moment. This wasn't happening. It couldn't be real. I stumbled back, my breath shallow. The walls felt like they were closing in, suffocating me. My vision blurred as I turned and ran, my heart cracking with every step. I didn't know where I was going. I just needed to get away. The betrayal clawed at my throat and burned through my veins. The man I loved, the man I had built my life around, had betrayed me in the worst way possible. And worse, he didn't care. Had it always been a lie? Had he ever really loved me? The thoughts suffocated me as I stumbled onto the road, my feet moving of their own accord. I wasn't watching where I was going. The only image I could see was that of George with another woman in our matrimonial home. It was a terrible and incredibly painful experience. I didn't see the car approaching. I only felt the impact. The impact of the hit was jarring and I felt a rush of fear and pain. I was worried for my unborn children. Were they also hurt in the process? I just lay on the floor, weak and having no strength to stand. How could I go through with this? I tried to stand but my strength failed me. I was shaking and there were no words that could describe what I felt. The driver who had hit me, came out of the car, walking towards me like he wasn't aware he hit a human. I was face-front on the floor but I could see there was a birthmark on his ankle. I couldn't look up but soon He received a phone call and he picked it up. "The job has been done." He dropped the phone again. I didn't know where we were or who he was, I only pleaded for mercy. "Please don't hurt me." I got no response; he only dragged me out of the car and I felt the sudden emptiness below me before I even registered what was happening. A searing pain exploded through my body as I was thrown into the air I was falling. The wind screamed around me, the dark waters below swallowing me whole. And for a moment, time stopped. Then, nothing. Silence.