What Blooms From Burned Love

Bruce never came back.

Sometime past midnight, a sharp pain tore through Suri's stomach.

She snapped on the bedside lamp, tried to move—but her body wouldn't listen.

"Bruce!" Her voice cracked. "Bruce, my stomach—!

"Someone help! Please! I don't feel right!"

She screamed until her throat burned, but the house stayed dead quiet.

Hands shaking, she fumbled for her phone and dialed Bruce.

A voice answered—but it wasn't his.

"Hello? Suri, what is it?" Julie.

"Sorry, Bruce spent the whole night reading to me and the baby," Julie said, fake sweet. "He was so wiped, he passed out. If you need something, just tell me."

"Tell Bruce my stomach really hurts... ask him to come back..."

"Your stomach hurts?" Julie let out a sharp laugh. "Come on, you can't even have kids. What's there to hurt? And even if I wake him, you think he'd actually care?"

Before Suri could say anything, Julie shouted, "Bruce, wake up! Suri says her stomach hurts. She wants you to go over."

A pause. Then Bruce's groggy voice: "What is it?"

"Bruce—"

Julie cut in, all pout. "Ugh, I was finally asleep. My stomach wasn't even hurting that bad, but she just HAD to call and wake me. Now it's acting up again."

"Your stomach hurts again? Don't worry, I'm staying with you. I'm not going anywhere." Then Bruce snapped into the phone, "Suri, seriously? You can't even get pregnant—what stomach pain? Go to the bathroom or something. Quit calling!"

Click.

No matter how loud she screamed, no one came.

The pain slammed into her harder, draining every bit of color from her face.

Sweat drenched her forehead. Her lower belly kept tightening like it was trying to fold her in half.

Then—warmth. A sudden rush beneath her.

And just like that, panic took over.

'It hurts so bad.'

She glanced down—blood soaking the floor beneath her. Her face went paper white.

Was she... pregnant?

"Help!"

Barely hanging on, she dragged herself to the door. "Somebody... please..."

Bruce finally stepped out, holding up Julie.

"What are you yelling about?" he started—then saw the blood. His face dropped. "Suri? What's going on?"

He moved toward her, but Julie gagged dramatically. "Ew, what is that smell? Suri, if you're on your period, use a pad or something. There's blood EVERYWHERE. You seriously smell infected."

Suri shook her head, voice barely there. "No... Bruce, my stomach... I think I might be—"

Julie cut in, full venom. "Oh, I get it. You're jealous I'm pregnant, so you're pulling this stunt to mess with me. But this? It's just pathetic. Bruce is only gonna hate you more."

Bruce froze—then stepped back.

He looked down at her like she was something stuck to his shoe. "Are you done? Pregnant women need sleep. Go back to your room. Keep this up and you're moving out tonight."

The door slammed. Cold air rushed past her.

"Bruce Jerkinson... don't you DARE regret this..."

She stared at his heartless back, the world tilting—then everything went black.