What happened, Mrs. Anderson?

[in Mrs. Anderson story]

The morning greeted Stephen and Janine on their bed, they were at each other's arms naked under the white covers, Stephen woke up and sat on their soft bed. "You up? Janine moaned behind him as she squints her eyes. "Yeah, you sleep some more" he bowed down to reach her forehead. Some hair strands touched his lips.

It was half eight in the morning they are both awake in the kitchen having breakfast. Stephen sat closer to Janine and looked at her belly.

"I bet it'll be a boy" he smiled.

"Boy or a girl, doesn't matter" Janine giggled as she stood up to clean the dishes.

Stephen walked closer to her and hugged her from behind, "we'll know later" he whispered in her ears as they both chuckles.

Both came out from the bathroom steaming and wet, their slick hairs were dripping water all over the place. Stephen finished preparing himself while Janine was standing before the mirror and pampering her face with makeup.

Stephen came behind her and kissed her head, he was rather too sweet for her, Janine wondered what could be the cause of his tenderness so she turned to look at him. Stephen presented in his hands a rectangular box.

"What is it?" Janine took the box and opened it.

"I bought you a lipstick." Stephen reached for his nape

"Aw thank you" Janine jumped at him and wrapped her arms around his head

"You know my favourite colour" she leaned closer to his ear "vibrant red" she whispered.

"I don't know if you'll like it though" he embraced her on her waist

"Of course I do!" she turned to look at the mirror behind her "I'll wear this today" she swift the product on her lips.

They both went to check the ultrasound yet came home disappointed. Both were stranded in the doorway and Janine tried to go to the living room.

"It's okay, we'll try again" Janine walked

"We can't. It's just not working" he rubbed his forehead

"We can still try" she insisted

"I said we can't. We've been trying for four years now." he groaned still massaging his forehead

"I know but we can still try please listen to m-"

"WHY CAN'T YOU BEAR ME A CHILD?!" He growled and stormed off to work, slamming the door at her face.

Janine noticed he was really angry, she stumbled on the floor with tears flowing in her eyes "It's not my fault, my womb won't let me" she cried. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘦'𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯? She hoped and waited for him to come home.

It has been way past five now, he always comes home five noon afterwards, yet its already eleven in the evening and he still has not come home. She was worried about him, she waited for their door to rattle.

Around twelve in the morning, the door flew open. Janine was awoken by the sound of it and quickly ran to the door to welcome her husband. His suit was undone, he looked wasted as he staggers his way, Janine grabbed his arm to assist him walk but he quickly yanked his arm "Go away! come back to me when you can get pregnant" he leaned on the wall and slides down, he fell asleep on the floor.

His words gravely hurt Janine's heart, she could not say anything and could not do anything. She stood for a few moments looking at her husband, then to her belly. She slowly touched her belly "This is your fault" her eyes filled with tears and soon a tear fell down to her face.

Janine punched her stomach several times, but it is not enough for her. She wanted to punish her stomach, she wanted to hurt it with something hard. She frantically looks around her to find something. She spots their kitchen, she drew open the cabinet and drawer. She found a rolling pin and pat heavily her stomach. It is still not enough for her, she could not feel enough pain to satisfy her anger.

She lifts her head up and at her eye level points, a knife holder sits idly on the counter. Janine drops the rolling pin in excitement and quickly grabs a knife. She thrusted the knife in her stomach multiple times and coughs blood, when she came back to her senses, it was too late.

Her vision became hazy and her head was spinning. She fell on the floor 'What have I done?" the knife clattered on the floor as she covers her mouth with blood-filled hands.

Her hands waver, she soon completely drop her body, belly on the floor. She tried to crawl and reached her hands to the sight of which Stephen was lying asleep, "I'm sorry, Steph…" her arm fell lifelessly on the ground.

"He must have been suffering, getting over a child" Janine stopped rubbing her belly.

Rose held Janine's hand over hers "It was never anyone's fault" she gripped her warm hands on her cold hand.

Her ivy eyes were filled with sorrow and regret, she turned to look at Rose

"Please tell him that I.."

"I love him" her voice quivered but she still smiled.

"I will" Rose assured her.

The woman's face became softer and her lip colour faded into white and she was only pale. As rose blinked, she was no longer in her sight, she disappeared like that. Rose looked around and she was before her house's door, sitting on the ground.

She opens her hand and found a rectangular box, a lipstick. She clenched it hard in her arms and sighed.

Rose stood up to turn the knob open. Upon entering her house to showering, she realized Janine has been helping her ever since they first met at the building, she accompanied her to Stephen's office, as well as pushing the elevator button. Rose pondered Janine never meant harm nor held a grudge at anyone, rather wants to help her husband get over his situation.

Rose flopped herself on the bed and slept. Another day awaits her.