The Mosquito’s Blood

The day I found out I was pregnant was the day my on-again, off-again boyfriend of ten years, Jack, finally kicked me to the curb.
He bailed, only to announce his engagement to someone else a week later.
I became the laughingstock of our social circle. Through the worst of it, Aidan was the one by my side.
Everyone whispered about it. If Elara was a lovesick fool, then Aidan was her knight in shining armor, swooping in to raise another man's child.
The hero finally ditched the side character, so the second lead gets his chance, right?
Aidan shielded me from all of it, a silent guardian, just as he had been for years.
The day I finally accepted his proposal, the tall, handsome mans eyes turned red for the first time.
Lara, he choked out, I swear Ill make you happy.
On our wedding day, I found myself inexplicably thrown seven years into the future.
The thirty-five-year-old Aidan was looking at me, his voice cold, his face a mask of impatience.
Just tell me, he said. What will it take for you to finally agree to the divorce?

1
I do.
The words slipped out automatically, a reflex from the ceremony Id just left.
It took me a few seconds to realize my surroundings were all wrong.
There were no cheers, no guests, and no response from Aidan.
The man who had been looking at me with tear-filled eyes at the altar just a moment ago now wore a look of pure indifference.
My answer seemed to smooth the deep furrow in his brow.
Since you agree
A divorce? The word finally registered. Why?
Silence hung in the air for a beat too long.
Aidans voice was heavy. Elara, can you please stop changing your mind over and over again?
Theres no point in dragging this out. Do you really want to make such a scene that neither of us can walk away with any dignity?
His impatient expression and icy tone made the world feel unreal.
Aidan had never looked at me like that.
Before this, he had proposed to me four times.
Id turned him down the first three times, terrified he would end up hurting me too.
But he had been relentless, telling me again and again, Lara, Ill never leave you.
Ill chase you for the rest of my life. Please, just dont push me away.
Just give me one chance, please?
Hed even had a single, crimson dot tattooed right over his heart.
For me.
I stared at his face, my mind reeling from the whiplash.
Aidan tossed a file onto the table with a sigh of frustration. When youve made up your mind, just contact me. Im giving you one more month, max.
Otherwise, well just let the lawyers handle it.

2
My gaze drifted downward. The bold, black letters on the cover of the file seared into my eyes.
DIVORCE AGREEMENT.
Aidan had already signed it. His familiar, elegant script, the same script Id seen just a minute ago on our handwritten vows, was now scrawled across this sterile white paper.
He knew I loved old traditions, so hed insisted on writing our vows himself.
And now, that same hand had signed away our future.
I pinched myself, hard. The pain was real, but this nightmare didnt end.
The sharp edge of the paper sliced my finger. A drop of red bloomed on the agreement, a stark contrast to the white page. It reminded me of the handfasting cord wed tied around our wrists at the wedding.
The vibration of my phone pulled me back.
The screen displayed the year: 2025. Seven years after our wedding day.
A message from someone named Mark: [Mr. Scott is driving towards Riverside Park. Destination is likely the West End.]
I scrolled up. The chat was filled with reports on Aidans every move.
And photos of him with a woman who lived in the West End.
According to the chat history, Id hired this private investigator three months ago.
A week ago, Id asked him for detailed information on the woman, preparing for a confrontation.
[Eva Vance, 27, from Oakhaven.]
[Started as an intern at Mr. Scotts company three years ago, later promoted to his personal assistant.]
[Contact info is..., but Ms. Hayes, confronting her directly right now might not be the best move.]
The P.I., probably used to these messy situations, was advising caution.
I never made that call.
My fingers traced over the intimate photos on my screen, zooming in again and again.
A hot burn started behind my eyes, and soon, tears blurred the screen into a watery mess.
Before I could dial her number, her name flashed across my screen. An incoming call.
Took you long enough to answer.
Evas voice was light, laced with an unmistakable thread of triumph. Werent you desperate to meet me?

3
The moment I saw Eva, I froze, my feet feeling like lead.
She looked even more like me than in the photos, only younger, fresher.
Shed chosen the coffee shop; clearly, she was a regular.
A waiter hurried over. Welcome back! The usual today?
Just milk this time, Eva said, raising an eyebrow at me. Im pregnant. The doctor said I need to cut back on caffeine.
She watched my knuckles turn white where I gripped my purse, then feigned a moment of realization.
Oh, Im so sorry. Did I hit a nerve?
Look, Im a direct person, so Ill just be honest. What man doesnt want a child of his own?
Since you cant give him one, shouldnt someone else be allowed to?
I stared blankly at her flat stomach, the palms of my hands stinging.
Seven years ago, Id lost our first child. The miscarriage was followed by a severe illness, and the doctors told me it would be nearly impossible for me to conceive again.
Aidan never brought it up, but I knew how much he loved kids.
So, Id been seeing specialists in secret, forcing down bitter medications.
My mom would cry just watching me. You wouldnt even drink a sip of cold medicine when you were little
It was agony. Id drink the medicine, throw it up, and then force myself to swallow it again, the bitter taste clinging to my mouth.
I wanted so badly to have a child with Aidan. Everyone said hed be an amazing father to a little girl.
I never thought that after seven years
We still wouldnt have a child of our own.

4
Watching Evas carefully protective gestures, I finally understood Aidans urgency.
She was pregnant. In another couple of months, shed start to show.
He didnt want her, and his child, to be without a proper name.
Sensing my gaze, Eva placed a hand over her stomach.
Aidan has probably mentioned this to you many times. I have no issue with the asset division. Settle it however you see fit.
You two were together for so long. You wouldnt want things to end on an ugly note, right?
She spoke with the exact same phrasing Aidan had used.
I could almost picture them, rehearsing this conversation, complaining about how I was dragging my feet, refusing to let go.
If I dont agree to a divorce, you cant move up Are you afraid of your child being labeled illegitimate?
Evas expression didnt change, but her eyes filled with contempt.
You think Im dirty? That Im manipulative?
The love is gone, but you cling to him like a leech. Dont you think thats disgusting?
I imagined the 35-year-old me must have become incredibly weak over these seven years of marriage.
So weak she couldn't even make a single phone call to demand the truth.
I straightened up, and just as I reached for my hot coffee, a sharp, violent pain tore through my abdomen.
The world went dark for a second, and I barely managed to grip the edge of the table to stay upright.
Eva grabbed her purse, her eyes wide with alarm. If anything happens to this baby, Aidan will never forgive you!
I gritted my teeth against the wave of agony, my knuckles white on the table.
Aidan told you not to see me, didnt he? If he finds out you came to threaten me into a divorce
Evas face paled. Dont be so dramatic, she muttered, turning to leave.

5
I collapsed the moment I got home.
When I woke up, it was the next day.
Slivers of light pushed through the curtains, illuminating a cold, silent apartment. The entryway was a mess. Aidan hadn't come back.
I used the wall to pull myself up, my body aching as I stumbled to find some painkillers.
But when I opened the medicine cabinet, there wasn't a single painkiller inside.
Instead, there were neatly organized bottles of vitamins and various brands of hangover remedies.
My handwriting covered the labels, tiny notes detailing when Aidan should take his vitamins and which remedy worked best for different situations.
Tucked at the back of the cabinet was a small notebook.
February 27th: A picked the fruit out of his lunchbox again. Punishment: two Vitamin C gummies.
March 6th: Showed off at a work dinner, drank too much, and got sick. Babbled nonsense all the way home.
Punishment: No alcohol for three days, only stomach-soothing broth.
March 13th: Forgot his hangover pills again
The entries were frequent at the beginning, but as I flipped through the pages, they became sparse.
Until finally, the pages were blank.
I ran my fingers over the slightly damp paper, lost in a daze.
My phone buzzed.
A message from my mom.
[Honey, you two haven't been back in so long. Your father and I miss you.]
[Thanksgiving is just around the corner. You'll be coming home with Aidan this time, right?]
I blinked away the blurriness in my eyes and opened my chat with Aidan.
A sea of my green message bubbles was met with only a few terse replies from him.
[Saw this tie while shopping, thought it would look great on you.]
[This plant looks like a giraffe! Doesn't it look like the one we saw on our safari trip?]
[Found that old song you used to love. Havent heard it in ages.]
[Its raining, make sure you dress warm. I packed a scarf in your suitcase.]
[I made fish soup, with that soft tofu you love.]
Aidan: [Last-minute business trip.]
My shared moments had become a monologue. His rare replies were dismissive.
The very last message was from two months ago. A reminder from me.
[Don't forget tomorrow. You promised Mom and Dad we'd visit.]
He still hadn't replied.

6
I called him. He finally picked up on the third try.
What is it?
Thanksgiving is coming up. Mom and Dad want us to come home.
There was a long pause on his end, followed by an impatient sigh.
My heart plummeted.
Before he proposed, Aidan, afraid Id get homesick, promised my parents we would visit for every holiday and at least once every two months.
But now, it had been over half a year since wed gone home together.
Well see.
He was about to hang up, but I cut him off. You promised me.
On the day we were supposed to leave, Aidan came home.
He watched me get into the passenger seat, his expression cold. Elara, this is the last time.
They're going to find out about us sooner or later. Ive given you more than enough time.
The scenery blurred past the car window. A small charm on the rearview mirror chimed softly.
It was a cheerful sound, but it felt jarringly loud.
Aidan had a lot of stressful work events, so he always preferred quiet music in the car to unwind. I had chosen quiet, soft trinkets for him. His favorite had been a small, lavender-filled sachet Id embroidered myself.
Now, it had been replaced with a jumble of cold, clanking metal charms.
I stared at the tangled chains, swallowing the lump in my throat.
Why did you lie to me?
Why did you say you were on a business trip when you were setting off fireworks for someone else in another city?
Why did you promise wed do a hundred things together, only to leave the pages of our journal blank?
Why did you propose one moment, swearing to love me forever, only to turn around and share all those romantic gestures with another woman?
I couldnt understand.
Aidan slammed on the brakes, his eyes flashing with ice.
Elara, are you really one to talk about lies and betrayal?

7
Whats that supposed to mean?
His knuckles were white on the steering wheel. Have you ever been completely honest with me?
I stared at him, confused, but before I could ask, a sharp cramp seized my stomach.
I stumbled out of the car and rushed into the rest stop, but all I retched up was blood.
In the mirror, my reflection was ghastly. My face was pale and gaunt, my cheeks sunken. No amount of makeup or bright lipstick could hide the aura of sickness clinging to me.
I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead and, clutching my stomach, slowly made my way back to the car.
I knocked on the window. Can you turn around after this? I need to go to the hospi
You should just go home by yourself today.
Aidan was staring at his phone, his brow furrowed. Something came up at the office. I have to go back and deal with it immediately.
I glanced at his screen.
The chat window was open. It was Eva.
Aidan, I cant go back alone right now. Im not feeling
The window slid up, cutting off my words.
I took two steps after the car, and the world spun.
A metallic taste filled my throat as my stomach convulsed. I crumpled to the ground, curling into a ball as darkness swallowed me whole.

8
When I woke up, the sharp smell of antiseptic filled my nostrils.
After I collapsed at the rest stop, a kind stranger had brought me to the nearest hospital.
My phone showed over a dozen missed calls from my frantic mother.
Honey, you said youd be here by seven! Are you stuck in traffic?
Mom, dont worry.
I blinked against the sting in my eyes. Something urgent came up with Aidans company, so we had to rush back. We might not we might not be able to make it home for a while.
Oh, as long as youre okay.
My mom sighed in relief. Your father and I know youre both busy. Well see you at Christmas.
Listening to her gentle chatter, my nose burned even more.
In my last relationship, I was young and stubborn, and Id charged headfirst down a dead-end road. My parents had worried endlessly.
So when Aidan started pursuing me, they were hesitant to trust him.
It wasnt until after my miscarriage, when Aidan stayed by my side day and night, enduring countless closed doors only to reappear with his heart on his sleeve, that they were finally moved by his sincerity and accepted him.
At our wedding, my mother cried until her eyes were swollen.
When my father placed my hand in Aidans, his own eyes were red.
Dont worry, Aidan had promised them. Ill make Lara happy for the rest of her life.
I never thought that in seven years just seven short years
This is what we would become.
After reassuring my mom, I hung up and went to get my test results.
The moment I opened the folder, my fingers froze.
I gripped the paper, my knuckles turning white.
Gastric Cancer, Stage IV.

9
I dont know how long I walked, numbly grateful for the cold wind on my face that seemed to clear my head.
When I got home, I was surprised to see a familiar figure waiting.
The moment he saw me, Aidan shot up from the couch and grabbed my arm, his grip like iron.
Are you done with your games?
I frowned at him, confused.
Aidan slammed a stack of photos onto the table. Every single one was a picture I had seen on my phone.
Elara, what the hell do you want?
Hiring someone to follow her, take pictures of her, trying to hurt her you did all that just to force my hand, didnt you? If you have a problem, you come at me!
Eva, terrified I would reveal she had initiated our meeting, had played her trump card.
She must have known she was being photographed all along. No wonder the angles were so perfectly intimate.
I didnt have the energy to argue. All I wanted was to lie down and sleep.
But Aidan yanked me back, his eyes blazing with a righteous fury, as if I were the most despicable person on earth.
Pain shot through my shoulder, and I braced myself against a cabinet to stay upright. Eva is certainly clever
My weary smile seemed to sting him. He tightened his grip, nearly crushing my bones.
Elara, you have no right to look down on her.
Of course, someone like you, always so high and mighty, you could never see any fault in yourself, could you?
That expression its disgusting. Just like your parents.
He spat the words out, his face twisted in a snarl.
I froze for a moment, then slapped him across the face, hard.
His head snapped to the side, his face falling into shadow.
Dont you dare talk about my parents! I was shaking, the pain in my body and my heart becoming one.
I cant talk about them? Or do you just think Im not worthy?
Aidan let out a sudden, harsh laugh. The red handprint on his cheek was stark as he grabbed my other hand before I could strike him again.
Elara, all these years, thats what youve really thought, isnt it?

10
I stared at Aidan, dumbfounded. I had no idea why he was saying these things.
My parents never did anything to
I heard them at the hospital! They never approved of me, did they? They thought someone like me could never make you happy. They thought marrying their precious daughter to me was a complete tragedy.
The hospital?
My mind drifted back to the time I was hospitalized after losing our first child.
Aidan had been there for me, day and night. It was then that I finally started to let him in.
My parents, seeing that I no longer pushed him away, realized I was finally ready to move on.
But they still had their reservations.
Honey, we know youre hurting right now. Starting a new relationship might be a good distraction, a way to feel better.
But if you havent forgotten the last one, its not fair to Aidan.
They had hesitated, then continued, Besides, Aidan is still so young. We believe he has a bright future, but marriage is a serious commitment. We want you to be happy, not to rush into something out of desperation because of your current situation.
Back then, Aidan was young, in love with me, and broke.
I knew what my parents were afraid of. They were afraid I would suffer, afraid I would walk down another dead-end street.
I had promised them then, Mom, Dad, dont worry.
Besides you two, no one will ever love me more than Aidan.
Before our wedding, to show their support, my parents gave Aidan a substantial sum of money to start his own business.
I never imagined that in his eyes, it wasnt a gift. It was charity from on high.
Admit it, Elara. Youre just like them. Even after you were with me, you were still obsessed with your ex. You even met up with him the night before our wedding.
Aidan closed in, his grip on my wrist threatening to shatter bone.
He was right. The night before our wedding, I did see Jack.
That reckless fool had gotten drunk, climbed the fence into my parents yard, and started waxing nostalgic.
Lara, I know you dont really want to marry Aidan. As long as you dont push for marriage, we can still be together like before. I dont mind
A slap from me cut him off.
You hit me?
I slapped him again, harder this time, and grabbed a nearby wine bottle, pointing it at him.
I was a fool for ever getting tangled up with you, but Im telling you now, I am marrying Aidan because I want to.
If you ever say another word to disrespect him, I wont hesitate to call the police.
Jack looked at me and suddenly laughed.
Elara, you really havent changed, have you? Still such a believer in true love.
Aidan is not like you. You dont have the right to even be compared to him.
Were all the same, Elara. Youre just too naive to see it.

11
The pain was so deep it stole my breath. I swallowed the metallic taste in my mouth and looked up at Aidan.
Is that really who you think I am?
His words were a knife, twisting in my heart. Elara, did you think that because I chased you like a pathetic dog, I deserved to be your second choice? That because I love you, I should just live in the shadow of your perfect ex, picking up his scraps and thanking you for the privilege?
That no matter what I do, Ill never measure up to the man who threw you away? Sometimes, people are just pathetic. And youre one of them.
Aidan slammed the door on his way out, leaving me alone in the crushing darkness.
The seeds of doubt had been planted long ago. Now, they had grown into a monstrous tree, leaving no room for a single word of my defense.

12
Before checking into the hospital, I made a trip to a small chapel on a hill.
I climbed the stone steps one by one, leaving behind my last wishes.
I wished for my parents to stay healthy. I wished for myself to hold on a little longer, to make the goodbye less sudden.
After lighting a candle, a young groundskeeper approached me.
Youre back, he said with a gentle smile. Here to see the wishing tree again today?
I paused for a moment.
I remembered. I did have a wish hanging on that tree.
After Jack and I broke up, I had come here to take down the wooden charm wed hung together.
The branch was a little too high. I stood on my toes, stretching, and finally lost my balance.
The charm, carved with the words Forever and Always, flew from my grasp. But it didnt hit the ground.
It landed, perfectly, in the hands of Aidan, who had been quietly following me.
He stammered, afraid Id be angry, Im sorry, Lara I was just worried about you being out here alone.
I stared at the charm in his palm.
In that moment, it felt like a sign from the universe.
Telling me that no matter how far I fell, no matter how much it hurt, Aidan would always be there to catch me.
Just as he had silently watched over me for the past ten years.
So I took his hand. Hang it back up.
I watched him clumsily tie it back in its place. A little higher, I teased, pinching his arm. The heavens can see it better if its higher. Dont you want them to wish us a lifetime of happiness?
Aidan froze, the meaning of my words slowly dawning on him.
Us? His eyes welled up. He looked so endearingly clumsy, fumbling with the string, pricking his finger in the process.
That was the day we got together.
Now, I walked toward the old wishing tree. It was almost completely covered in charms and ribbons; most people now used the newer tree on the other side of the path.
After seven years of sun and rain, our charm was faded and worn.
I reached up to touch it, and through a gap in the branches, I saw a familiar sight.
Aidan was holding Eva, lifting her up as she stretched to tie a brand-new ribbon to the highest branch of the new tree.
Can you reach? he asked.
Higher, a little higher! Eva squealed playfully. I want to tie it at the very top!
The string on our old charm had rotted away. I gave it a gentle tug, and it fell into my hand.
Aidans name was so faded it was almost illegible.
Only my name, Elara, remained clear on one side.
A stubborn coincidence.
I clutched the charm and turned away.
I called Aidan.
Ive made up my mind, I said. Lets get a divorce.
Aidan seemed surprised by my quick decision, but I could hear the relief in his voice. Okay. When?
Tomorrow.

13
The next day, I didnt make it to my appointment with Aidan.
The pain that night was unbearable. Just before I passed out, I managed to call for an ambulance.
When I came to after emergency treatment, I saw dozens of missed calls from Aidan.
Elara! What the hell is your game now?
He was furious. Is it fun for you, jerking me around like this again and again?
My throat was raw, and I could taste rust.
You need to stay still. Let me get you some water.
Aidan paused when he heard the nurses voice.
After a few seconds of silence, his tone softened slightly. Where are you?
He arrived in less than half an hour.
He stood by my bed, his brow slightly furrowed. What are you doing here?
I looked at him calmly and told him the truth. Cancer.
Aidan froze. It took him a few seconds to process the word, and a flash of disbelief crossed his face.
But just as quickly, the disbelief morphed into contempt.
Elara, thats not going to work. I thought I made it clear. Theres no future for us
Do you have a pen?
I held out my hand. Lets not wait. Ill sign it now.
Aidan seemed surprised by my lack of hesitation.
It wasnt until the signed divorce agreement was in his hands that he seemed to fully grasp what had happened.
After confirming everything was in order, his expression finally softened.
See? If youd just done this earlier, we wouldnt have had to go through all this ugliness.
You know I tried to do this peacefully at first. I never wanted it to get this bad.
I was exhausted. All I wanted was to sleep. I turned my head away without responding.
Aidan started to walk away, the papers in his hand, but then he stopped.
He turned back.
His question was almost absurd. Did you ever truly love me? Even for a second.
Realizing how pathetic that sounded, he rephrased.
Elara, do you have any regrets?
Looking at him, he felt like a complete stranger.
Utterly and completely unfamiliar.
Do you? I didnt answer his question, but asked one of my own. Do you regret being with Eva?
Aidan stared at me, his lips trembling slightly, but in the end, he said nothing at all.

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