All day long she had been having terrible stomach cramps. She’d missed school, and then Alex had been very late coming home, so she hadn’t had a chance to tell him. Perhaps the constant worry over Alex had gotten to her. Perhaps she just could not carry a child full term. “Anna…” Alex called again. “I’m home I need to talk to you.” “I’m in the bathroom. I’ll be right out,” Anna said. There was blood on her underwear and blood in the water of the toilet. Anna felt like crying, or screaming, or beating her fists against the wall, but she knew it wouldn’t help. She was less than a month pregnant, and now she’d lost the baby. “Anna, are you here?” Damn him, she thought. Can’t I have a single moment that is not about taking care of his needs? I am upset, my heart is breaking. Can’t I just be left alone? “Anna...”
