The police arrived at the crime scene, their flashing red and blue lights painting the dimly lit room in an eerie glow. Officers stepped inside cautiously, their eyes widening at the sight before them. Steve was on his knees, gripping Olivia's cold, lifeless feet as she hung from the ceiling. His fingers trembled, and his face was pale, drained of all color.
"How could this happen? How could she—how could she do that to me? To us? We were supposed to grow old together... I should've seen something. I should've noticed… all those signs.
The officers moved swiftly, cutting the rope and lowering Olivia's body gently to the ground. Paramedics confirmed what was already apparent—Olivia was gone. They carefully placed her onto a stretcher and transported her for post-mortem. Steve remained motionless, his mind drowning in a sea of shock and despair.
During interrogation, Steve recounted everything he could. His voice was hollow, devoid of emotion as he replayed the memories that led up to this tragic moment.
Scene Shift: Flashback
A time when joy filled their home.
Olivia held Steve's hands, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Steve, I'm pregnant."
For a moment, time stood still. Then, Steve broke into a wide smile, lifting Olivia off the ground in pure delight. "Are you serious? Oh my God, Olivia! We're going to be parents!"
From that day, Steve's entire world revolved around Olivia and their unborn child. He ensured she ate healthy, rested enough, and avoided stress. He brought a cradle, tiny clothes, and other accessories for their new arrival.
Olivia, a strong and independent woman, was the owner of a construction company. Lately, work had been overwhelming. She returned home late at night, exhausted. Even then, she would prepare coffee and work into the early hours of the morning.
One night, Olivia arrived home, visibly drained. Steve, full of excitement, knelt beside her, placing his ear against her belly. "Hey there, Olivia Jr., can you hear me?"
Olivia chuckled. "Why not Steve Jr.?"
Steve smirked. "Well, you know, according to facts, girls are closer to their fathers."
"Oh?" Olivia let out a small laugh but winced as exhaustion settled in.
Steve frowned. "You need to take it easy. For our baby. And for yourself."
Well these days there is some load of work as well as fire broke out at one of our construction site.
He handed her some painkillers for her aching body and the chocolates she had asked for earlier. "Here, have some rest."
But the days passed, and Olivia continued to push herself. Then came the night that changed everything.
As she slept beside Steve, a sudden sharp pain tore through her. Gasping, she clutched her stomach, only to feel warm liquid between her legs. Her breath hitched in horror.
"Steve!" she screamed, her voice filled with agony and fear.
Steve jolted awake. "Olivia?! What happened?"
Tears streamed down her face as she looked at him with sheer terror. "I'm bleeding... Steve, I... I think something's wrong."
Panic surged through Steve as he scooped her into his arms and rushed to the hospital. His heart pounded as he prayed, hoping—begging—that their baby would be safe.
After what felt like an eternity, the doctor emerged, his face grim. He let out a weary sigh before delivering the devastating news:
"She had a miscarriage."
Silence filled the air.
Steve felt the world around him collapse. His knees weakened, and he barely registered Olivia's sobs beside him. The dream they had built together, the future they had envisioned, had shattered in an instant.
When Olivia regained consciousness, Steve sat beside her, his face forced into a smile. "Oh my God, Olivia, you're safe! You're okay!" he exclaimed, trying to mask his sorrow.
Olivia blinked weakly, her voice hoarse. "Steve... what happened? What about our baby?"
Steve hesitated. "Nothing happened... just focus on getting better first."
Olivia's tired eyes searched his face, and tears welled up. "Steve, you don't know how to lie. Your fake smile always makes it obvious. Please... please tell me." Her voice broke into a sob. "What happened to my child?"
Steve felt his chest tighten, his vision blurring with unshed tears. He took a deep breath, unable to hold back anymore. "Olivia... we lost the baby," he whispered, his voice trembling.
A heart-wrenching cry escaped Olivia's lips as she broke down completely. Steve pulled her into his arms, holding her as she shook with grief. "I'm so sorry," she murmured, pressing her lips against his heart. "I'm so, so sorry
Next day Olivia sitting on the couch, absentmindedly running a hand over her stomach. The apartment was quiet except for the faint hum of the ceiling fan. Then—there it was. A flutter. A kick? Her breath hitched.
"Steve," she called, her voice trembling.
Steve looked up from his phone, concern flashing in his eyes. "What is it?"
"I… I just felt something. A kick. Steve, I swear, I felt the baby move!"
Steve froze. His heart pounded. "What? Olivia, does that mean—" He rushed to her side, kneeling before her. "Maybe—maybe the reports were wrong? Maybe our child is alive, and what you had was just… just a little bleeding?" His voice was thick with desperate hope.
Tears welled in Olivia's eyes. "I don't know. But it felt so real."
"We're going to the hospital," Steve said, already grabbing his keys.
Dr. Reynolds studied Olivia's chart, then glanced at the couple. His face was calm, but his tone was firm.
"Olivia, what you experienced is something called the phantom kick phenomenon," he explained. "It's common in women who've recently gone through a pregnancy loss or even after childbirth. Your body still remembers the sensations of pregnancy, and sometimes the brain misinterprets normal muscle movements as fetal kicks."
Olivia's face fell. "So… it was just an illusion?"
The doctor nodded sympathetically. "I'm so sorry. I know how much you wanted it to be real."
Steve squeezed her hand. "It's okay, Liv. We'll get through this. Together."
She swallowed the lump in her throat and forced a weak smile.
As they stepped out of the doctor's office, Olivia lingered in the hallway while Steve went to handle some paperwork. Just then, she overhead A Doctor speaking to a pregnant woman nearby.
"Make sure to avoid stress as much as possible," he was saying gently. "Stay away from too much chocolate, coffee, painkillers, and any heavy exercises. These things can impact your baby's development and in worst case even miscarriage can happen."
And when Olivia hears that, she will start asking herself: 'Where did I go wrong? What if this was my fault?' And that thought will eat her alive."