Hold Your Breath And Count To Ten

I woke up to the rhythmic beeping of the hospital machine, feeling the weight of an oxygen mask on my face. Attempting to rise, the pain jolted through me, forcefully bringing back memories. Images flashed in my mind, and tears uncontrollably rolled down my face.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice someone else in the room until a hand gently held mine. I longed to see who it was, but the pain held me captive. As the person approached, I saw the queen standing there, her eyes filled with tears, mirroring the emotions I couldn't express.

I couldn't hold back the tears as I cried, and the queen gently wiped them away. I was hoping and praying she had uncovered Dante's actions and I could finally break free, however was stunned by her unexpected words.

"Elena, I'm so sorry this happened to you, but don't worry, everything will be alright," the queen reassured, leaving me bewildered.

Fighting back tears, the queen continued, "Antonia told me everything. How did you fall down the stairs, my child? You need to be careful next time." Antonia had apparently portrayed a different narrative.

The truth hit me like a wave – Dante had deceived the queen, obscuring the reality. Disgust overwhelmed me, and I cried, my focus shifting to my child's well-being.

Sniffling and attempting to control my emotions, I asked about my child. The queen, shaking her head, uttered the devastating words, "Elena, you are a brave woman, and I know you would have made an excellent mother. Unfortunately, your fall was terrible, and the child... the child didn't make it."

I felt a mix of disbelief and heartbreak, my mind struggling to grasp the truth. The queen's words echoed in my ears, and the pain inside me deepened. I was disgusted by Dante's lies, but the overwhelming grief for the child I had lost consumed me. The tears continued to flow, a torrent of sorrow and shattered hopes. In that moment, all I wanted was to escape the nightmare and find a way to heal from the devastation Dante had caused.

All I craved was for the queen to understand the truth, my own pain becoming secondary. I yearned to embrace her tightly, sharing the horrifying reality, but the pain kept me restrained.

"Please don't cry. I'm sure you will be blessed with another child," the queen consoled, wiping away her tears.

"Promise me you will be careful next time," she pleaded, and with a gaze filled with determination, I promised.

Dante's deceit unveiled itself – he falsely claimed I fell down the stairs. He was not just a liar , he was a murderer, ruthlessly taking the life of his own child and concealing it with a web of lies.

Speaking of the devil he arrived , the room fell silent as Dante walked in, his eyes red and teary. I couldn't shake off the feeling that his tears were just a performance, a facade to deceive his mother. As he approached, pretending to be concerned, and kissed me on the cheek, he started to cry making me even more disgusted.

" My Elena , my dear Elena... I'm so sorry you have to go through this , I wish I had known you needed my help going down the stairs none of this would have happened." his words about being a better husband felt hollow.

Disgust continuously surged within me, but I had to conceal my true emotions. With a forced, weak smile, I played along with his act.

Dante's feigned compassion grated on my nerves. I could feel the weight of his lies and the sinister truth he concealed. Inner thoughts raced through my mind, questioning how I could ever live with a man capable of such deception.

Dante, wiping away his insincere tears, spoke, "Elena, I never meant for any of this to happen. I should have protected you better."

My response was measured, "It's okay, Dante. Let's just move forward."

Deep down, a storm of emotions brewed within me. I questioned the sincerity of his words, wondering if he even felt a fraction of the pain I endured. The charade continued, with me concealing my true feelings, trapped in a web of lies spun by the one person I should have been able to trust.

As Dante continued to express remorse, I pondered my next steps. Could I ever find the strength to break free from this nightmare? The room, once filled with deceit and heartache, felt suffocating. Little did Dante know, the seeds of doubt and rebellion were silently taking root within my wounded heart.

The Queen bid us goodbye, expressing her hope to visit again soon, as duty called . As the door closed behind the Queen, a heavy atmosphere lingered.

Shortly Antonia walked in, Dante's facade of grief evaporated, revealing his familiar, awful self. They embraced each other with with smiles, and Antonia's joyful expression irritated me further.

"My love," she said, tracing the muscles of his chest with the tip of her fingers , her smile stretching ear to ear. "Are you okay? How are you feeling?"

Dante, returning to his usual self, replied, "What can I say except, I feel good. In fact better than ever." They both laughed and continued to kiss like I wasn't in the room.Their smiles and kisses heightened my discomfort.I watched in disbelief as my own cousin kissed my husband in front of me. I fought back the urge to scream or cry in front of them.

Antonia turned to me, her sly smile evident. "Oh, sorry, I didn't notice you were awake."

Fake tears welled up in Antonia's eyes as she continued, "It's so, so sad. I'm so sorry, Elena." She continued faking her cry , her feigned sorrow morphed into an evil laugh, slicing through the air.

Anger and disgust surged within me. I wished I could rise and strangle her for this heartless act , how could they be happy at a moment like this, how could Dante be happy after almost killing me and having successfully killed our child.

Antonia moved closer to me making me face her as she taunted me , "Since you were careless enough to fall down the stairs and kill your own child, Dante and I will make one together. It'll be like yours never died."

The revulsion intensified, and without thinking, I spat on Antonia's face. " How dare you , you b*tch ," In retaliation, she choked . I tried to struggle free but I was powerless against her , what rubbed salt into my wound was watching Dante do nothing to stope her . Her grip around my neck tightened until unconsciousness enveloped me.

As consciousness slipped away, my last thoughts were of the darkness closing in, a refuge from the twisted reality Dante and Antonia had created.