You Only Love Me When I Leave

Marie was at the hospital the next day, even though the doctor had told her that she could stay home and rest. She didn’t want to. Everything reminded her of Harry and the child she had lost.

The first thing she did was visit the driver who hit her. He had also been injured and he had more sympathy than her husband. Marie could no longer feel any emotion so, his tears were nothing to her but it was easier to forgive him when she learnt that he was hurrying home because his wife had fallen from the staircase.

When Marie could no longer stand his attempts at apologizing, she opted to leave the room and attend to the next case.

One of the nurses met her at the door with her phone. “Dr Marie. There’s a call for you.”

“Thank you.” Marie took off her gloves and stared at the name flashing on the screen. Harry. “I’ll take this privately.”

Marie found the nearest storage compartment and leaned against the back wall before she answered Harry’s call.

“Are you out of your mind? Why didn’t you tell me?” He yelled.

“Good morning to you too.”

“We lost out child.”

“I’m aware, Harry. It was evacuated from my own body.” Marie rubbed her stomach with her free hand.

“You should’ve called to tell me immediately. How could I find such a report on the bed? That’s just careless.”

Marie was tempted to yell back asking him why he had not picked his phone but she remembered that she decided to let Harry to do the work in their marriage. “I’m sorry.”

“Is that all you have to say?”

“Were you with Violet?”

“How can you ask me such a ridiculous thing?”

“You’re right, Harry.” Marie ended the call without waiting for his response.

She was on her way out of the storage room when she got a text message from him: ‘I’m sorry for yelling. I’m so angry we’ve lost our child again. Please, call me, I don’t want you to work while you’re angry.’

She was tired of his lies. If he really cared about their child, he would’ve been with her yesterday. Or he would’ve called to find out if she got to the hospital.

‘I’m not mad.’ She texted back.

He called her immediately. “I’m sorry, Marie. Business has been really stressful. Then coming home to see this. It’s too much for me. I hope you’re doing fine.”

“I am.”

“You shouldn’t be working today.”

“I want to.”

It was silent on the line for a few seconds before Harry responded. “Well, since you want to. You could’ve at least ironed my shirt or made something for me to eat this morning. I’m going to be late preparing those things.”

She usually went late because she was trying to prepare his things. Today, she was two hours early because she focused on only herself.

“Experience it for a change.” Marie said, then cut the call.

She placed her phone on DND and placed it in her pocket. Today would be a beautiful day.

“You called for me, Dr. Baker?” Marie peeked into the office of the department supervisor.

Dr. Baker was her senior for twenty-five years and one of the doctors she highly respected. He was a well-built man with a few grey hairs and a comforting smile but he was also someone very stern about work and the health of his employees.

“Come in, sit.” He pointed at the red couch close to the door.

She did as she was told, holding her fingers in a tight grip and hoping that he would not be mad at her for showing up at work when she ought to be at resting.

“I know I had a miscarriage but I just couldn’t bear the thought of staying at home alone.”

“Alone? Where’s your husband?”

“He’s away. On a business trip.” Marie lied. “I want to keep myself busy until he returns.”

“And how long will he gone?”

“I don’t really know. Possibly a long time.”

“Good.” Dr. Baker smiled. “I’m glad I held on to this for you. How would you like to take the next level of your training?”

“You mean the NCLA?”

“Yes. I think it would be a healthy distraction from you-know-what.”

“Oh. That would be great.” Marie leaned forward, then frowned. “I wish I could. I don’t have enough money.”

She had enough funds after her college debt had been paid but she sunk it into Harry’s business and he promised to pay her back but told her the company had suffered loss so he had to bail it out with the money she gave him.

“There’s a scholarship and with your years of experience and skill, you are a good fit. I’ll put in a good word. That should help. It’s abroad though.”

She had turned down too many opportunities and promotions because she wanted to cater to Harry. It was time she put herself first. This time, she did not care what Harry would think.

“Dr. Baker. I don’t care if it’s in Africa, I’ll go there right now.” Marie smiled.

“Dr. Marie, you have a call.” One of the receptionists said as Marie was on the way to the main door.

“For me?” She clutched her bag and stared at the dark road outside. There was a cab waiting to take her home. The last thing she wanted was more work after she had given her body and mind to the point of sheer exhaustion to the work.

“It’s your husband.”

That sounded even more exhausting than work.

Marie nodded and picked the call, lowering her voice. “Hello?”

“Where are you?”

“At the hospital.” Marie kept her voice low.

Unlike Harry whose voice was so shrill that the receptionist shrunk away when she heard. “Come home, right now. You need to make dinner.”

Before she lost her child, Marie had been so happy with the thought that he wanted her presence that she would’ve run all the way home if she had to but she knew better. He just wanted a cook and a cleaner.

“I’m sorry. I have so much to do at the hospital tonight. I’m working overnight.”

“You NEVER work overnight.”

Marie shrugged, then winked at the amused receptionist. “Well, there’s a first time for everything. I’ll be home by eight tomorrow. Guess you also have to make your own breakfast.”

“Are… Are you mad at me?” Harry asked with a calm voice now.

“Why would I be? You are my darling husband who comforted me when I lost our child. You deserve all of my love but the hospital needs me tonight.”

Marie ended the call, then went out to cancel the cab order. She would stay back in the hospital and prepare for her scholarship application.

And if that was the only change Harry was expecting, he was in for a big surprise.