After examining Emily, the doctor made notes in her chart and said: — Emily Anne, please take care of yourself. Next time, we might not make it in time. Here’s a list of medications, how to take them, and the necessary prescriptions. Make sure to buy them today and start treatment as soon as possible. Well… Wishing you a speedy recovery! Casting a sidelong glance at her husband, who stood by the window with a crooked smirk, the doctor stepped into the hallway: — No need to see me out; I’ll close the door myself. The lock clicked, and James, …

Nancy settled comfortably with a photo album in her hands, often spending hours flipping through its pages. Memories of those joyful times warmed her heart. The first photo in the album was already faded. A young woman with a bouquet of flowers stood on the steps of a maternity hospital. Beside her, a beaming husband cradled two tiny babies. The black-and-white image hid the fact that the ribbons swaddling the infants were different colors: blue and pink. A flood of memories washed over the gentle elderly woman. In those not-so-distant times, having a first child after 30 was considered reckless. …

Jessica and James were unloading the last bags from their brand-new car, a recent purchase they were thrilled about. Jessica gazed lovingly at their sleek new possession and, with a satisfied glance at her husband—who was lugging the bags like a pack mule—said: — Isn’t it wonderful, Jimmy, that we finally have our own car and apartment? I was so tired of bouncing around rentals, you can’t even imagine! James, looking at his wife with tenderness and adoration, replied: — Yes, Jessie, now we can afford a few things. Mom left me a decent sum. We can finally live like …

When James returned from his business trip, he was as gloomy as a storm cloud—clearly, the negotiations had gone south. Emily hesitated to bring it up. — Hey, darling, I made your favorite beet soup. Wash your hands and come to the table before it gets cold. Her husband mechanically went to the bathroom, then sat down and absentmindedly stirred the broth with his spoon. Emily sat beside him and asked: — Don’t you like what I cooked? James snapped out of his daze, as if waking from a nap: — No, not at all, you know I always love …

“If you bring another woman to my bed, I’ll throw you out!” — Sarah thought, and instantly woke up. The hospital ward was dark. The stifling, sickly silence was broken only by the snoring and soft breathing of her roommates. — Good Lord… — she ran a hand across her forehead. — Why would I even think that? Sure, things had been rocky with her husband, James, lately, and it even seemed like divorce might be on the horizon, but this? No. He wasn’t foolish enough to bring someone into their home, not with three little kids there! Sarah shifted …