Erase the StainChapter 2

The contractions grew more frequent. Maya’s forehead glistened with sweat, and her lips were bitten raw. But she never screamed, just endured in muffled tones, occasionally whimpering. When the pain became unbearable, she’d clutch the bedsheet, mumbling, “My husband says it’ll be over after I give birth, it’ll be over after I give birth.” I adjusted the fetal heart monitor, not responding to her words. She was probably too nervous and started talking incessantly. Some people curse when they’re in pain, some cry. Maya was the talkative type.

“Doctor, my husband is really good to me.”

“Mhm.”

“He says he’s been waiting for this baby for a long time.”

“Mhm.”

“He was in a relationship before, it didn’t work out. Then he met me, and he said he knew I was the one for him, forever.”

I smoothed the monitor wires, keeping silent.

“We’ve been together for almost two years.” Maya added, a hint of pride in her voice.

Almost two years. Henry and I got our marriage license exactly two years and three months ago. Overlap. It overlapped from the very beginning. Which meant, he started this soon after we got married. Our honeymoon period wasn’t even over.

Maya probably saw my expression was too calm, assuming I wasn’t interested, and changed the subject. “Doctor, are you married?”

“Mhm.”

“Then your husband must also feel for you. Being a doctor is so tough.”

I handed her the straw cup. “Drink some water. You’ll need the strength later.” She took the cup, drank a few sips, and started talking again. “What moves me most about my husband is that he’s willing to start over for me.”

“His previous relationship ended badly. He said the other person clung to him for a long time.”

“Later, he moved, changed his phone number, and finally found peace.”

I heard the words “moved.” My fingers paused for a second. “Where do you live now?” I asked casually, like idle chatter. Maya didn’t think much of it and gave an address.

Emerald Lakes, Building 14, Apartment 1602.

My pupils constricted. Emerald Lakes, Building 14, Apartment 1602. That was my property. My parents bought it outright before I was married, in my name. Henry and I moved in together after we got married, living there for over a year. Before I left for my fellowship, Henry said his commute was too long, and he wanted to move closer to his company, suggesting I rent out the Emerald Lakes apartment. I agreed. He said he found a tenant for me, three thousand five hundred a month, paid into my account. Three thousand five hundred. He did transfer three thousand five hundred to me every month.

It wasn’t the tenant’s money. It was his own money, a pretense. He was living in my apartment, with another woman, spending my money, and pretending to collect rent every month.

Maya was still talking. “Our apartment is so nice. He decorated it himself, and he planted so many flowers on the balcony.”

The flowers on the balcony. They were jasmine and mint that I had planted before I left. I had watered them for half a year, fertilized them countless times. Now, they were his gift of romance to another woman.

“Doctor? You don’t look so good. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” I adjusted my mask. “The air in the delivery room is stuffy. It’s normal.”

Another wave of contractions hit. Maya was too much in pain to speak. She arched her back, panting desperately, her hands gripping the side rails. I looked at her, thinking, You’re living in my apartment, wearing my ring, carrying my husband’s child, and now you’re lying on my delivery bed, asking me to deliver your baby. Maya, do you know how absurd this world can be sometimes? And I am the only one in this entire room who knows the script.