Nydia's POV
"Even the higher-ups won't let you off the hook for this!"
Hadden kept rattling off my supposed crimes, but his words blurred into the background. My mind was foggy, and the contractions were hitting harder and faster.
"Dr. Fletcher, I think Nydia is really going into labor," one of the coworkers finally noticed, seeing me struggling to breathe, my lower body soaked in a mixture of amniotic fluid and blood.
"Nydia, I've observed you’ve been drinking soda lately—couldn't it be due to that?" Cynthia said.
"Yeah, you might be right," another chimed in. "She probably has a UTI or something. Maybe she’s just peeing blood."
"Cynthia, you’re so smart—definitely sharper than some people. It's a pity you're still a nurse."
"Oh, stop it, Hadden, you’re just flattering me!” Cynthia giggled, and they continued flirting like it was just another ordinary day.
I couldn’t take it anymore. Through gritted teeth, I forced out a plea: "For the baby’s sake, please help me."
"Stop pretending," Hadden snapped, his tone icy. "What? Trying to win sympathy now? If you’re in such a hurry, go to the obstetrics ward yourself. You’re a nurse, aren’t you? Or are you just that bad at your job? If so, I really should report you and get you fired."
He muttered something else under his breath, but I didn’t catch it. My survival instincts kicked in, and I reached out to grab his hazmat suit, but my fingers slipped.
Just like that, they all walked away, sprayed disinfectant everywhere, sealed the windows, turned off the lights, and locked the doors behind them, just like they would at the end of any regular shift.
By then, it was night. The emergency exit signs cast a faint green glow in the dark, barely illuminating the ward.
I had no choice. I dragged my heavy body, step by agonizing step, to the restroom. Once there, I stripped off my nurse's uniform and laid it over the toilet seat. I had to deliver my baby alone.
The pain was unbearable. Without any pain relief, I passed out from the agony, only to wake up again when the contractions hit harder.
Time blurred. I could feel the baby crowning, but then—suddenly—there was nothing. The baby stopped moving.
I knew what that meant. My baby was suffocating, and there was nothing I could do. The floor of the restroom stall was soaked with blood and other fluids, but I pushed one last time, summoning every ounce of strength I had left. Something slid out of me, and then... darkness.
When I woke up, I was lying in the obstetrics ward.
“You’re awake?” The voice belonged to Elise Field, a young intern. She stood by my bedside, her expression filled with unease.
For some reason, my chest felt hollow, as if something vital had been ripped away.
“Miss Nydia, when I came in this morning to open the ward, I found you in the restroom. You’ve already delivered the baby…” Her voice faltered, and I knew what was coming.
Tears blurred my vision before she could finish.
“I brought you here as quickly as I could, but… the baby’s face was blue. It must’ve been deprived of oxygen for too long. It was a stillbirth.”
I didn’t respond. I didn’t cry or scream. I just sat there on the hospital bed, numb.
The urge to cry was gone, as was the ability to feel sorrow. At that moment, it was as if my entire being had emptied itself. There was nothing left inside.
Two of the most important people in my life—my baby and Hadden—had disappeared from my world in a single moment.
“Miss Nydia, I haven’t told the others yet. I’ll go inform Dr. Fletcher now,” Elise said hesitantly.
“No need. Thank you, Elise,” I said quietly.
She hesitated at first, but then later sighed and left.
A while later, the obstetrician came in, concern and frustration written all over her face. “You’re a nurse. Why didn’t you come to the obstetrics ward sooner? Do you realize how dangerous this was?”
Her tone softened, but her worry didn’t waver. “Your body is in bad shape. You need to rest properly during your recovery.”
“Thank you for your concern, Doc. Could you help me with the discharge paperwork?” I asked emotionlessly.
The doctor’s face darkened. “You’re being reckless! That intern mentioned your husband is a doctor here too. Which department? I’ll call him. How could he neglect you like this?”
“There’s no need. He’s probably too busy to notice,” I replied with a bitter smile.
On my way out of the hospital, I passed by the patient wards. I was in an adult diaper with a urine bag hanging from my side.
