Chapter Text
Ugh… why am I even doing this?
This was probably the fifth time Julia had thought this in the past ten minutes. Why… just why was she watching this movie? Oh, right, it’s because Player hates me, Julia thought.
“Those ladies?”
“Aren't they our cousins too?”
“Distant. Distant.”
Julia was just about to pause the movie and contemplate if friendship is really worth it in the end, when she got a call on her cell phone. Bloody hell.
Julia left the movie running and went to the kitchen to answer the call.
“Player, I swear - what? …No!”
–
Julia burst through the hospital doors.
“Where is Room Four Two Zero?!” Julia frantically asked the receptionist behind the desk. The short-haired receptionist simply pointed down the hallway. Julia ran.
When Player had called, Julia had felt her heart sink. She was so distraught that she barely heard Player tell her what hospital and room Carmen was in before rushing to the hospital.
Just as Julia reached the room, a doctor held out his hand to stop her. “Are you here to see Ms. Santa Rosa?” The man said.
Julia nodded. “Yes, I’m her fiancée. What condition is she in?”
The doctor looked at her with a somber expression on his face. “We just finished the scans a bit ago, and we confirmed that her situation is dire. She’ll be undergoing surgery within the hour.” He gave her a solemn nod before allowing her through. Julia took a deep breath, steeling herself to face whatever horrible condition the love her life was in.
Carmen was laying on her side in the hospital bed, facing away from the door. One hand was clutching her abdomen and the other clutching her pillow.
Slowly, Julia walked up to the bed. She reached out to Carmen, but hesitated, not knowing where she could touch her.
“Carmen?”
Slowly, Carmen rolled over onto her back. “Jules.”
Carmen looked exhausted. She had large, dark circles under her eyes. Fresh tears were running down her face.
“Jules, how could you?” Carmen asked, her voice breaking.
“W-what?”
“Didn’t you notice it, Jules? All the signs?”
Julia shook her head. “I don’t…Carmen, what are you talking about?”
“Think about it. The bursting through the doors. The receptionist. The doctor. The way you hesitated to touch me just now. The fucking room number, Jules! Can’t you see what you’ve done?” Carmen sobbed.
Julia shook her head, the puzzle pieces slowly clicking together in her head. She felt the tears welling up in her eyes. It couldn’t be…could it?
“Is this…” Julia started to ask, but she felt herself choking up. She couldn’t say it.
Carmen nodded.
“It’s loss.”