Chapter 9 - LAURA’S EMAIL DRAFT
Laura’s laptop had sat untouched in Jonathan’s bedroom closet for four years.
He could not open it.
Nina did not suggest he should.
Caleb Grant did.
“We need anything she wrote during hospitalization.”
Jonathan hated him for asking.
Then did it.
The laptop password was Ethan’s middle name.
That destroyed him.
He found photographs.
Baby-name lists.
Nursery furniture links.
A half-finished shopping list.
Then drafts.
One email saved but never sent.
To:
Jonathan.
Subject:
Sam says I’m anxious.
Jonathan clicked.
The draft was short.
J,
I know I’m exhausted, but something feels wrong on the left side. Sam says surgery hurts and I’m spiraling because Ethan scared us at birth. I don’t want to be “that patient.” Teresa seemed more worried than he did.
Please don’t tell me I’m being dramatic. I know my body.
Love you.
Jonathan read the last line until the screen blurred.
I know my body.
He had not told her she was dramatic.
He had not seen the draft.
But Voss had apparently made her feel it.
Jonathan forwarded the email to Caleb.
Then found a photo timestamped thirty minutes after the canceled ultrasound.
Laura’s hospital wristband.
Her hand resting over the left side of her abdomen.
Nothing graphic.
Just placement.
Location.
Consistent with the pain she described.
Then another draft:
Maybe ask for scan in morning if still bad.
There had been no morning.
Jonathan closed the laptop.
May you like
Then opened it again.
Because truth did not care what he could tolerate.
