Aurora gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white, her fingers trembling. The car hummed softly, but the sound barely registered. Her thoughts were a tempest, churning with fury and heartbreak. Her stomach felt tight, not from the pregnancy, but from the nauseating weight of her husband’s words.
That morning, she could still hear his voice, calm but laced with selfish indifference. “Aurora, we decided to have kids too early. We’re still young, and my career is just starting to take off. My career will go down the drain. We should have waited. Maybe it’s not too late for an abortion.”
The words struck her, sharp as a slap. Nine years of marriage, and this was what it had come to. “Rethink?” she had whispered, her voice breaking. “Rethink twins? Rethink lives that are already growing inside me?”
Graham hadn’t met her gaze. “I’m not trying to hurt you. I just think we rushed into this.”
Now, the memory made her seethe with fresh hatred. This was Graham, her Graham, the man who had been her rock since their student days. How could he say such things? It was like she didn’t even know him anymore.
Her friend Astrid’s husband had been an image of devotion during her pregnancy. He pampered her, brought her late-night cravings, carried her to bed. And mine? Aurora’s chest heaved as she fought back a sob. Mine treats my pregnancy like it’s a ball and chain.
When she’d first shared the news, Graham hadn’t smiled. When the ultrasound had revealed twins, his reaction had gone from muted to hostile. “I’m not against having kids,” he’d said, his voice cold. “I just think it should have happened later.” Later was just an excuse for never.
A sudden honk snapped her out of her spiral. She had drifted slightly out of her lane. She quickly corrected herself, her hands trembling. She pulled into the nearest parking lot, unable to trust herself to keep driving. Turning off the ignition, she slumped back, the tidal wave of emotions finally crashing over her.
As the sobs subsided, Aurora wiped her cheeks, determination hardening her features. She wouldn’t let his doubts poison her joy. She would love these babies fiercely, even if Graham couldn’t see past his selfish fears. And if he couldn’t step up, she would do it alone.
Caught up in her heavy thoughts, she barely registered the world around her. She didn’t notice she was drifting further from her exit until it was too late. Panicked, she tried to merge back, but the traffic was dense. The blaring honk of a horn cut through the chaos in her head. Then came the screech of tires. The impact came with brutal force. Her car jerked violently as another vehicle slammed into her rear. Aurora didn’t even have time to scream before her body was flung forward, her head striking the steering wheel. Everything went black.
Somewhere far away, she heard a voice. “What is wrong with you? Did you not see me coming?” The man who had crashed into her stormed out. But as he approached the driver’s side window, his tirade faltered. Aurora wasn’t moving. “Hey!” he shouted, alarm lacing his tone. “Are you okay?”
It was then that his eyes fell on her rounded belly. He froze. “She’s pregnant,” he murmured. A faint moan from Aurora snapped him out of his stupor. “Thank God you’re alive,” he said, his voice trembling as he leaned in closer. “An ambulance is on its way.”
Aurora stirred, her head rolling to the side. Her eyelids fluttered. She opened her eyes just enough to see the man’s face, his wide, panicked eyes filled with concern. “I… I broke the rules,” she croaked weakly.
The man shook his head. “That doesn’t matter right now. Don’t talk, just focus on breathing.”
A wave of terror swept across Aurora’s face as her trembling hand instinctively moved to her belly. “My twins… what’s happened to them?” she cried out, her voice breaking.
The lead paramedic nodded, his expression grave but composed. “We’ll take care of you, ma’am. Just stay with us.”
The hospital staff moved swiftly upon her arrival. Aurora clung to the faint hope that everything would be okay. It wasn’t until the next morning that a silver-haired doctor entered her room.
“You’re one lucky lady,” the doctor began, offering a reassuring smile. “Your babies are fine. Their heartbeats are strong, and there’s no sign of distress. But you’ve suffered a mild concussion. You’ll need to stay here for a few days under observation.”
Aurora let out a shaky breath, tears of relief streaming down her face. As the doctor left, she leaned back against the pillow, her hands resting protectively over her belly. You’re safe, my darlings. I promise.
Graham arrived later in the afternoon. He entered the room without a smile. His first words were cold and perfunctory. “How are you? When will you be discharged?”
Aurora stared at him, speechless.
“I heard the accident was your fault,” he said, shaking his head. “You should have been more careful. Do you know how much the car repairs will cost?”
“The car?” she snapped, her voice trembling with rage. “That’s all you care about? I could have d.ied! Our twins could have d.ied!”
“But nothing happened to them, did it?” he said flatly. “Why stress over what didn’t happen?”
Her heart sank. His apathy was like a weight crushing her.
Days later, Aurora packed her belongings and left the hospital. Graham was no longer the man she had loved. She sought refuge in her late mother’s small apartment. As she sat there, the weight of betrayal crashed down on her. How was she supposed to live alone with two newborns? She was unemployed, her savings modest. The reality loomed over her like a dark cloud.
The familiar throbbing in her head returned, sharp and relentless. A sharp pain shot through her abdomen. “No, no, no,” she whispered frantically, “not my babies.” The pain grew worse. Terror gripped her heart. She fumbled for her phone, her vision swimming as she dialed the emergency number.
When she opened her eyes, the world was blindingly white. A doctor with a familiar face stood over her.
“What’s wrong with me, Doctor?” she asked, her voice raspy.
His name was Evan Ashton. He had a quiet confidence that put her at ease. She didn’t know then that he was the man from the accident. He explained that they needed to run more tests. The news of the tumor hit her harder than she thought possible. Her thoughts flashed to terrible, tragic stories. Without thinking, she asked, “Will my hair fall out?”
Dr. Ashton sighed heavily. “Aurora,” he said gently, “losing your hair is the least of your concerns. You will be treated. We’ll start therapy in doses that are safe for the babies.”
Aurora wasn’t reassured. “Tell me, Doctor,” she began, her eyes meeting his with a piercing intensity, “how much time do I have left?”
He hesitated. “There’s no definitive answer. It could be a month, or it could be fifteen years.”
Aurora’s lips twisted into a bitter smile. “I won’t live that long.” She rose from her chair, her shoulders slumped, and shuffled toward the door. She wanted to scream, to bang her head against the wall, but thoughts of her unborn children stopped her. She withdrew into herself, locking her emotions away.
That day felt like it slipped from Evan’s grasp entirely. His colleagues noticed his shift in demeanor. At just 32, Evan was already the head of the obstetric department, a rising star. But now, for the first time, he felt like he was failing. What if she’s right? a voice taunted him. What if the accident triggered this? He knew the medical evidence didn’t support that theory, but guilt gnawed at him.
The next morning, Evan was jolted awake by his phone. One of the interns. “Dr. Ashton… Aurora Donovan… I think she’s…”
He didn’t process the rest. He bolted through the hospital corridors. As he approached her room, he saw doctors and nurses clustered around her bed. He pushed through the small crowd. Aurora’s body was still, her face pale, but there was a faint rise and fall to her chest. “She’s not dead,” Evan announced confidently. “She’s in a coma.”
He began issuing precise instructions. Within minutes, the room transformed into a coordinated flurry of activity. But his confidence wavered when he saw the latest ultrasound results. Both babies were showing signs of rapid complications. Their tiny, vulnerable lives were hanging by a thread.
The guilt he thought he had buried came crashing back. Then, like a bolt of lightning, the solution struck him: an emergency operation to save the babies. The odds were not in their favor, but it was their only chance. Yet, even as he moved with determination, a voice lashed at him again: And what about Aurora, then? He knew the truth. Her body, already ravaged by illness, wouldn’t survive the stress. He had to face the unbearable reality: Aurora would not leave the operating table alive.
Evan lost track of time during the surgery. The first baby, a girl, was delivered with a single cry that pierced the room. But when Evan looked closer, his heart sank. The girl’s optic nerves had not developed properly; she was nearly blind. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to remain composed. Half an hour later, his hopes were dashed again. The boy was diagnosed with a severe congenital heart defect.
You did the right thing, his inner voice repeated. You knew there would be complications. What were you expecting? Miracles?
When the surgery was finally over, Evan left the operating room with a heavy heart. He had known the risks, but knowing didn’t make it any easier.
Three days later, Aurora passed away. Evan sat in the empty break room, staring blankly at a coffee cup. His colleagues gave him space. He was a doctor; he was supposed to fix things. But he wasn’t a god. He couldn’t stave off dea:th.
He knew Aurora deserved a proper burial. Surely she had relatives. Her husband, at least. Evan had tried calling Graham multiple times, but each attempt ended in frustration. Finally, he decided to go to Graham’s home in person.
A young woman answered the door. “Are you here for Graham?” she asked hesitantly.
A man’s voice called from inside. “Eliza, what’s going on?” Moments later, a man appeared, his hair damp.
“I’m here regarding your wife, Aurora,” Evan said curtly.
The young woman, Eliza, gasped. “Your what? Wife?” she exclaimed, turning to stare at Graham.
Graham, however, remained unfazed. “Eliza, come on, don’t be silly. I don’t have a wife. Never had one.”
“I’m your wife’s doctor,” Evan’s voice turned cold. “Your ex-wife’s doctor. She passed away yesterday in the hospital. She left behind two newborn children. Will you take them in as their father?”
Graham’s face paled, his confident demeanor crumbling. “I… I can’t take them. But there are orphanages for that. They can go there.”
At those words, something inside Evan snapped. He stared at Graham, searching for some sign of humanity, but found none. He spun around and began descending the stairs.
“Where are you going?” Graham called after him.
“There’s nothing more to discuss,” Evan replied over his shoulder. He turned and walked away, leaving Graham standing in the hallway.
The weekend was a relentless trial for Evan. He couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep. The weight of guilt consumed him. Leona, his wife, watched him with deep concern. On Sunday evening, Evan sat slumped in his chair.
“Leona, this has broken me,” he said quietly. “I failed her. I failed her children. Tomorrow, I’m submitting my resignation.”
Leona’s heart sank. “Evan, don’t rush,” she pleaded.
She stood silently, walking over to the window. After a moment, Evan rose and went to her side. “Leona,” he asked softly, “what’s wrong?”
She turned to face him, her cheeks streaked with tears. “I’m just wondering what’s going to happen to those innocent babies,” she said. Evan’s heart softened. He took her hands. “Evan,” she continued, her voice careful yet resolute, “I’ve been thinking. Maybe we should take Aurora’s children in. We can be their parents.”
Evan stared at her, stunned. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. They need someone, Evan. And I think that someone is us.”
“But they’re sick,” he faltered.
Leona’s expression didn’t waver. “Yes, they’re sick, but it’s not terminal. They’re babies, Evan. They need love and care. We’ll treat them. We’ll give them a chance.” Her conviction left him speechless. Years ago, a tragic fall during her pregnancy had shattered their world, leaving her unable to have children. Now, Aurora’s story had stirred something in her.
Evan sank into a chair, her words swirling in his mind. Finally, he emerged from his study. He found Leona sitting on the couch. He knelt before her, taking her hands. “All right,” he said, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “Let’s do it. Let’s take Aurora’s children.”
Leona’s eyes filled with tears of joy. Evan felt a weight lift from his chest, replaced by a quiet sense of purpose.
Three months had passed since Evan and Leona welcomed Jack and Jill into their lives. The once-quiet house was now filled with the joyful chaos of babies. Unbeknownst to them, they had named the twins exactly as Aurora had wished. Leona felt whole in a way she never thought possible. Evan, despite the long hours at the hospital, had stepped fully into fatherhood.
Their lives weren’t without challenges. Jack’s vision required special care, and Jill underwent several surgeries. But Evan and Leona faced these hurdles together.
The twins’ fifth birthday arrived. Evan called for a taxi, deciding to leave the car behind for a relaxed evening. The Yellow Cab arrived promptly. The driver, a middle-aged man with weathered features, greeted them warmly.
“Got your hands full there, huh?” he said with a chuckle.
“Five today,” Leona chimed in with a laugh. “It’s their birthday.”
“Happy birthday to them! Five’s a big milestone. You must be proud.”
“We are,” Evan nodded. “They’re incredible kids.”
As they neared their destination, the driver commented, “You’ve got a beautiful family. They’re lucky to have you two.”
“Thank you,” Leona replied warmly.
As the car came to a stop, Evan lingered to pay the fare. He handed the driver a $50 bill. “Keep the change,” he said with a polite smile. As he looked directly at the driver, their eyes met. In that instant, recognition struck. Both men froze. The driver’s smile faltered. It was Graham.
Evan remained calm, his expression neutral but knowing. Graham swallowed hard. Evan didn’t speak but gave a single, firm nod. The twins were now at the restaurant door, their laughter drifting back. Graham’s gaze followed them, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. He stepped out of the car, his movements slow, as if the weight of the moment was too much. He stood beside Evan, his eyes locked on the twins. Finally, he turned to Evan, his voice cracking. “Thank you… for giving them what I couldn’t.”
Evan nodded, his voice steady but kind. “They’re loved. That’s all that matters.”
Graham exhaled deeply, his eyes lingering on the children one last time before he climbed back into the driver’s seat. As the cab pulled away, Evan watched the tail lights fade. Turning back toward the restaurant, he saw Leona holding the twins’ hands, their faces glowing with excitement. He smiled softly, his heart full. They were not defined by the choices they didn’t make, but by the love they chose to give. And with that, he joined his family, ready to celebrate the life they had built together.