Monday morning arrived, signaling the end of the weekend and the start of another workday.
Vera moved quickly, preparing breakfast like she always did. Once done, she carefully packed the meals into containers, one for herself and one for Stan. Placing them neatly on the kitchen counter, she left to freshen up and get dressed for work.
A short while later, she descended the stairs, expecting to find Stan waiting for her in the living room. But when she got there, he was nowhere in sight.
"Honey, I'm ready. Let's go," she called out.
His voice came from the dining room almost instantly. "I'm coming." Moments later, he appeared, holding the food packs she had forgotten.
"You left these behind," he said, smiling as he held them up.
She let out a small laugh, reaching for them. "Oops, my mistake. Thank you."
But instead of handing them over, he simply shook his head. "Let's go."
Together, they walked to the car, and soon, they were on their way. As always, he would drop her off at work before heading to his own.
When they reached her office, he turned to her with a soft smile. "Have a beautiful day." He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, his warmth lingering even as he pulled away.
"Love you," she said, unlocking the door.
"Love you more." He caught her hand, giving it a soft squeeze before finally letting go.
He didn't drive off right away. Instead, he watched as she walked into the building, waiting until she disappeared inside before pulling away.
"Good morning, Miss Wells!" Tina, her secretary, greeted with a bright smile, her excitement unmistakable. She hurried over, taking Vera's handbag and food pack from her hands.
"Good morning, Tina. Hope you had a great weekend?" Vera asked as they walked toward her office.
"Very much! It was amazing!" Tina beamed.
Vera chuckled as Tina gently placed her things on the desk before stepping out.
Left alone, Vera let out a slow breath. She closed her eyes for a moment and whispered a quiet prayer. "Bless me today."
Then, with a determined heart, she settled into her seat, ready to take on the day.
Vera glanced at the clock. She was thirty minutes early. A small smile tugged at her lips—just enough time to enjoy her breakfast and steal a moment of rest before the day officially began.
Carefully, she opened the food pack, setting out her meal and cutlery. But just as she was about to take her first bite, a knock at the door interrupted her.
"Come in," she said, covering the food.
Tina stepped inside, her expression polite yet eager. "The document for the Tesas and Co. project. Can I start typing the terms? I'm free at the moment."
"Of course," Vera agreed without hesitation.
She turned to the stack of manuscripts on her desk, sifting through them. But within seconds, a frown crept onto her face.
"It should be here," she murmured, flipping through the pile again.
"Maybe you put it somewhere else without realizing?" Tina suggested.
"Possibly." Vera stood and walked over to the cabinet, her fingers trailing along the folders as she searched.
A moment later, relief washed over her. She pulled out the missing manuscript, a triumphant smile lighting up her face.
"Found it." She handed it to Tina, who took it with a grateful nod before leaving the office.
Now alone again, Vera finally returned to her meal, eating slowly, savoring each bite.
When she finished, she checked the clock. Ten minutes left before work officially started. Letting out a quiet sigh, she leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, allowing herself just a moment of rest before the day's work would kick off.
A sharp pain shot through her lower abdomen, making her jolt. She gasped, pressing a trembling hand against her stomach. The pain faded after a few seconds, and she let out a shaky breath. But just as she was about to relax, another wave of pain hit her, stronger this time, deep and frequent.
She clutched her stomach, her eyes squeezing shut as the pain intensified around her waist. Her lips trembled, and she bit down hard to stifle a groan. Then suddenly, she felt a warm, wet sensation beneath her.
Her brows furrowed in confusion. She was pregnant. Her period wasn't supposed to come. But the doctor had warned that some women bled irregularly during pregnancy. Still… why was it this painful?
Gritting her teeth, she reached for her handbag and fumbled inside, fingers trembling until they found what she needed. Thankfully, she always kept spares.
With great effort, she stood, grabbed her bag, and staggered toward the restroom. Her posture was hunched, her breathing uneven. Most of the staff hadn't arrived and it was good. She didn't want anyone to see her like this.
Reaching the restroom, she pushed the door shut and locked it. As soon as she was alone, a deep groan escaped her lips. The pain was unbearable, as if something inside her was being ripped apart.
Then, she felt it again. A stronger rush of liquid. Something was wrong.
Panic set in as she clumsily pulled out her phone, her vision blurring. She barely waited for the call to connect before whispering, her voice trembling, "Stan… I'm bleeding. A lot."
"Babe! What are you saying?" Stan's panicked voice filled her ears, but she couldn't respond. A deep groan escaped her lips, and before she could hold on, the phone slipped from her hand, ending the call abruptly.
The pain was unbearable. Her legs refused to move. "Help!" she cried, but her voice was lost. No one would hear her.
Her breathing became strained, as she clenched her abdomen. The warm, thick rush of blood between her thighs sent terror through her. No, no, this wasn't normal.
"Tina!" she screamed, her voice cracking as she collapsed to her knees.
She tried to reach for her phone again, but her trembling fingers wouldn't let her. The blood wouldn't stop. It flowed like a fast stream, draining her strength with each gush.
"Tina!" she cried. Her vision began to blur.
Her body stopped listening to her. Her muscles went weak, and her arms and legs felt heavy. The world seemed to spin, and she curled herself into a ball, feeling the cold floor under her. Her chest felt tight, and her lips shook as she tried hard not to pass out. Someone… anyone… please…
Just when she thought no one would help, she saw a blurry figured running toward her.
"Miss Vera!" A familiar voice called.
She struggled to focus, barely recognizing the face. Gathering the last ounce of her will, she forced a single word past her trembling lips. "Hospital…"
Then, everything faded. The sounds, the pain, the fear. Darkness swallowed everything.