After being reborn, I'll give you back your freedom.

Sarah and I, both pregnant, faced a life-or-death situation, hemorrhaging badly during labor. My husband, Mark, chose to save his first love, Sarah, leaving me to fate. Though the hospital eventually found more blood, I barely survived, losing our baby. Overwhelmed by grief, I fell down a flight of stairs, dying instantly. Then, I woke up. Back to before it all happened. This time, Mark, you're free.

…

"Mark, save our baby! Save it!" The pain ripped through me, splitting me in two. Tears and sweat blurred my vision. I gripped Mark's hand, pleading.

He met my eyes, his face a mixture of anguish and indecision.

"Mark! Save me! I don't want to die!" Sarah screamed from the next bed. Mark froze, torn.

"Both mothers are hemorrhaging," the doctor said urgently. "We only have enough blood for one. Mr. Johnson, you need to decide."

Mark's jaw clenched. He looked at me, then at Sarah, writhing in pain. When he opened his eyes, his decision was clear. His voice was hoarse but firm. "Sarah. Save Sarah."

Boom. It felt like an explosion in my head. I couldn’t think. I saw the blurry figures of doctors and nurses swarming around Sarah.

I woke up days later, alone in the room. My once swollen belly was flat. Panic set in. I needed to see my baby.

Ignoring the pain, I found a nurse. After giving her my name, she looked at me with pity. "Mr. Johnson didn't tell you? Your baby…it didn't make it. The lack of oxygen… We saved you, but…you won't be able to have children again." She squeezed my shoulder. "You're young. Try to…try to be strong."

Numbness followed the initial devastation. I wandered the hospital like a ghost. Then, I saw him. Mark. He gently placed a sleeping infant in a crib and turned to offer Sarah a bowl of soup.

She took it, a shy smile on her face, then her expression clouded. "Mark, you saved me first. Is Sarah going to be mad?"

"If she blames anyone, she'll blame me," Mark said, handing Sarah a tissue. "It was my choice. Sarah's husband, David, died serving our country. She's a Gold Star Wife. We need to take care of her and her children."

"Sarah…" Mark's voice turned cold. "She tried to hurt you and lost our baby in the process. I’m just thankful you and the baby are okay. I wouldn't have been able to face David otherwise." He continued, his voice laced with venom, "That baby deserved better than a mother like Sarah. And she’s lucky to be alive. What more does she want?"

His words were ice water. Mark, my husband, the father of my child… How could he be so callous? Sarah almost died. I lost everything.

This was the man I loved, the hero I worshipped. I had failed. Failed to hold onto his love, failed to protect our child. I’m sorry, my baby. I’m so sorry I gave you such a terrible father.

Laughing and crying, blinded by tears, I didn't notice the stairs. I tumbled down, down, down. Before everything went black, I heard a nurse scream, "Someone! Help! She's bleeding!"

I woke up staring at the familiar popcorn ceiling of our apar...