Part 2

I don’t know how long I was out there. Ten minutes? Twenty? Maybe longer. In the cold, time lost all meaning. All I knew was my hands had stopped hurting because I could barely feel them anymore, which scared me more than the pain had. My breath came out in weak bursts, and each cramp in my stomach felt tighter than the last.

I kept thinking about the baby.

I placed both hands over my belly and whispered, “Please, please be okay.” But my voice trembled so much I could hardly hear it.

I pounded on the glass again, weaker this time. Inside, the apartment looked warm and bright, full of movement, completely disconnected from what was happening just a few feet away. I saw Ryan’s mother carrying dishes. I heard laughter through the glass. At one point, I saw Melissa walk past the door without even glancing at me.

That’s when I realized this wasn’t a joke to her. It wasn’t an accident. She knew I was out there. She was choosing to leave me.

My teeth chattered so hard it hurt. My legs felt heavy and unsteady, and another cramp twisted through my lower abdomen, this one so sharp I cried out. I banged again with both fists, panic taking over. “Ryan!” I screamed. “Ryan, help me!”