The Tides Swept You Out of My Life

My brother-in-law passed away in an accident. Out of pity for his widow, my husband decided to be the breadwinner for both families.

After that, my husband and son both gave all their love to my widowed sister-in-law.

On her birthday, my husband and son reserved a restaurant in town for her party.

I was plucking corn in the field when I started bleeding, a sign that I was miscarrying. I called my husband, begging him to come home and take me to the hospital.

However, he scolded me angrily, calling me a liar. “What the hell are you talking about? I haven’t touched you in months! How could you be pregnant?”

My son grabbed the phone impatiently as well. “Mom, the teacher said lying is wrong! Aunt Laura’s blowing out the candles now, bye!”

We had been married for seven years, yet they had completely forgotten that today was my birthday too.

Despairing, I dialed another number. “Mother, I changed my mind. I’m going back to inherit the clinic.”

It was the harvest season. When I was busy in the fields, I accidentally slipped on a cob of corn and fell. As I got up, I felt a twisting pain in my lower abdomen.

I limped home and called my husband on the landline, begging him to take me to the hospital.

However, Seamus Chandler assumed I was lying to get out of my chores, so he berated me. “What the hell are you talking about? I haven’t touched you in months! How could you be pregnant?”

Even my son did not believe me. “Come on, Mom, you’re just making excuses to laze off. My teacher said it’s not good to lie, so stop pretending! Oops, Aunt Laura’s coming. We’re going to blow the candles now, bye!”

He hung up before I could even say another word.

A month ago, Seamus had gotten dead drunk at a wedding in the village. He had pinned me down as soon as he returned to our room.

I had been happy at first. I thought the wedding reminded him of our happier times together, so he was finally about to return to me.

In the height of his passion, however, he called his sister-in-law’s name instead.

No wonder he assumed I was lying when I told him I was pregnant.

Today was my birthday, yet my husband and son were out celebrating an outsider’s birthday. I held my lower abdomen and put down the receiver, my blood running cold.

The pain was intensifying. I knew that I had lost this baby for sure.

Lying on the bed, I gripped the covers tightly. It felt like there was something clawing at me from the inside, dragging my organs out. I moaned in agony as my blood soaked the sheets.

After four hours of blood-curdling pain, I finally came to a realization. It was time to leave.

It was evening by the time I managed to pull myself out of bed. After making myself a bowl of soup to restore my energy, I dialed a name I had memorized by heart.

“Mother? Can I still inherit the clinic?”

I was born to a family of doctors. Eight years ago, I met Seamus, who had been painting by the riverside.

Back then, he was handsome, gentlemanly, and caring. I had decided to marry him from the first time we met.

My parents had opposed the marriage, so I eloped with him behind my family’s backs and despite their protests. After that, my relationship with them was never the same.

Five years into our marriage, Seamus’ brother was driving their mother to the hospital in the city when his motorcycle suddenly lost control and veered off a cliff. Both of them died on the spot.

My father-in-law had a heart attack when he heard the news and died on the way to the hospital.

Everyone felt bad for my widowed sister-in-law. As a result, my husband decided to take her in under his wing as well.

I wept in protest, but Seamus persuaded me with his silver tongue. “Trust me, Autumn, you’re the only one I love. Back then, my brother had quit school so that my family would have enough money to fund my studies. Now that his wife is a widow, I can’t just leave her to die!”

I thought he was good for his word. I thought he would only watch over her daily needs.

However, everything changed once she moved into our house.

Before long, I heard laughter from the courtyard. I got up slowly, holding the table for support. The moment I turned my head, I met Seamus’ eyes as he was coming in.