Chapter 13 - The Woman Named Sarah Jenkins
Months after Victor's arrest, Mina found the Sarah Jenkins identification in a drawer.
She held it for a long time.
That woman had once represented freedom.
A new name.
A distant town.
A life where Alfred would never find her.
Now Mina wondered what Sarah's life would have been.
Quiet, perhaps.
Safe, maybe.
But lonely.
Alfred entered.
He saw the card.
Neither spoke.
Finally he asked, “Do you regret staying?”
Mina answered truthfully.
“Sometimes I wonder what would've happened if I'd made that flight.”
His face tightened.
“That wasn't my question.”
“No.”
She put the card down.
“I don't regret staying.”
Then she added, “But I'm glad I was willing to leave.”
Alfred frowned.
“Why?”
“Because it forced me to decide what I wouldn't accept.”
She looked directly at him.
“I loved you before, Alfred. But I was disappearing inside your life.”
He absorbed that quietly.
“I don't want that anymore.”
“Neither do I.”
She handed him the false identification.
“What should we do with Sarah?”
Alfred looked at it.
“Let her go.”
Together, they cut the card in half.
Then Mina suddenly grabbed the edge of the table.
Alfred went pale.
“What?”
She inhaled.
“Nothing.”
“Mina.”
“Braxton Hicks.”
“What is that?”
She stared.
“You read six pregnancy books.”
“I skipped some sections.”
She started laughing.
Alfred did not.
“Do we need the hospital?”
“No.”
“Doctor?”
“No.”
“Ambulance?”
“Alfred.”
He stopped.
She smiled.
“We're okay.”
He placed both hands gently around hers.
“I'm still learning.”
“I know.”
That night, Alfred packed the hospital bag three weeks early.
May you like
Then repacked it.
Twice.
