The Wedding Ring That Never Made It to My Finger Chapter 05

The Wedding Ring That Never Made It to My Finger Chapter 05

My mother was supposed to be discharged that day. I stepped out for a few minutes, and that’s when I heard shouting

from inside her room.

When I rushed back in, Nina was on her knees beside my mother’s bed, head bowed.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Reed. This is all my fault. I’m the reason Clara and Ethan fell apart.”

“I threw myself at him. I’m the one to blame. Hate me if you want – I deserve it.”

‘I’ll walk away. I’ll disappear. Clara can have him back – I swear.”

My mother was trembling with rage. She jabbed a finger at Nina and hauled herself to her feet.

“Shut your mouth! My daughter is never going back to that man!”

She made it one step before her legs gave out. She collapsed, clutching her chest, gasping for air.

“Ms. Reed! Oh my God – Ms. Reed, are you okay?”

Nina reached for my mother, and I threw her aside. “What are you doing here!”

She was shaking, her voice breaking apart. “Clara… I just – I came to apologize to your mom.”

I slammed the call button and tried to heave my mother back onto the bed.

Nina grabbed my arm, mouth opening to explain. I slapped her before she could get a word out.

“Stealing my boyfriend wasn’t enough? Now you’re trying to kill my mother? What is wrong with you!”

The slap snapped her head sideways. My handprint bloomed red across her cheek.

I grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the door. That’s when Ethan appeared in the doorway.

His eyes went straight to Nina’s face – the swelling, the handprint – and his expression turned to fury.

“Are you out of your mind? She’s your best friend!”

He shoved me back and pulled Nina against him, tilting her face up. “Let me see. Does it hurt?”

The shove sent me backward into the IV stand. The metal hook dug into my back, and the pain whited out everything.

Blood soaked through my shirt and pooled on the linoleum. My mother’s mouth was open, straining, but no sound came

out.

Then her eyes rolled shut and she went limp. I dragged myself across the floor toward the hallway, screaming for help.

leaving a trail of blood behind me.

Ethan stood frozen, something like concern flickering across his face. Nina bent down to help me up, and I screamed at

her.

“Get away from me! Stop pretending you care!”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. He took Nina by the arm and steered her toward the door.

“If she doesn’t want our help, fine. Come on let’s get some ice on that cheek first.”

I watched them walk away. Whatever was left inside me died with their footsteps.

The light above the operating room door went dark. The doctor came out and delivered the news. Massive heart attack.

They couldn’t save her.

Everything went black, and I didn’t come to until midnight.

After the funeral, I packed what I had left and went straight to the airport.

As the plane climbed, I pressed my forehead to the window and watched the city shrink beneath me. Love. Friendship. I

left them both on the ground.