Cast Away The Slipping Sand

Its claws tore my clothes. It also slammed my belly.

I lay on the floor miserably. I wailed in agony as my vision went dark.

I felt a warm rush flow out of me. My survival instincts kicked in, and I started screaming desperately, “Help! Walter, help!”

Before Walter came in, Belle slapped herself twice across the face, ripped her own bra straps off, and threw herself to the floor. Her hair was in a mess.

A moment later, Walter burst through the door like a madman and came straight to me. He barely looked at Belle.

“Zara, what’s wrong? I’m taking you to the hospital!”

Belle burst into dramatic sobs as if she had suffered the greatest injustice in the world.

“Boo hoo! Zara, why did you hit me? Scruffy is usually so gentle. It didn’t mean it. Why couldn’t you just leave him alone? Why do you have to poison him?”

My heart dropped.

I looked over quickly. The dog was lying on the floor, foaming at the mouth and whimpering.

I urgently said to Walter, “Walter, I didn’t do it. My water just broke. Please take me to the hospital!”

Walter hesitated for a moment. Just as he was about to crouch down and pick me up, Belle cried miserably with a tear-streaked face.

“Walter, Zara can’t even tell her own pee from amniotic fluid. She clearly wet her pants, but she’s lying and saying her water broke. Is she just making up an excuse to go to the hospital to avoid responsibility? Scruffy was a gift from my mom. What gives her the right to just poison him like that? Even if he’s just a dog, you don’t get to treat him that badly!

“Boo hoo! Since none of you can stand to have me around, fine. I’ll just leave!”

She stood up. Just as she was about to walk away, Walter pulled her into his arms.

“You’re not going anywhere without my permission.

“What will it take for you to stay? I’ll make it right for you.”

With that, Walter looked coldly at me and demanded, “Apologize to Scruffy.”

His tone was firm and left no room for argument.

A single tear rolled down my cheek. I never expected Walter to make me apologize to a dog that had hurt my child, all for Belle’s sake.

I glared at him and said defiantly, “Walter, that dog lunged at me and bit me. It broke my water. Our baby’s life is on the line. And you’re telling me to apologize to a dog? On what grounds?”