Chapter 17

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in warm hues as the last of the daylight slipped away. Jeffrey spent the whole afternoon in the hospital room, waiting for Natalie to wake up. He was going to confront her the moment she did. All this while, he couldn't shake the sight he had seen when he walked into the operating room. Her delicate hand dangled off the table, tugging at something deep inside him. Beside it lay the small, bloody embryo. He took two hard drags from his cigarette, stubbed it out, and looked over at her on the bed. The evening sun streamed through the window in shafts, and a single strip fell across her face. He caught her eyelids fluttering slightly. Then, he looked down at the watch on his wrist. The doctor had said that the anesthesia would wear off around this time. Jeffrey immediately discarded his cigarette and walked over to Natalie. "Natalie." He spoke her name, each syllable crisp and cold. His voice carried no warmth at all. Leaning ove