The happiest moments of my life could be counted on one hand.
After my parents died young, I grew up on scholarships and charity. The first time I met Georgina was in college.
From that very first meeting, I felt an inexplicable pull toward her.
But Bryan was always at her side. I stayed close to her in silence, convinced that what I felt would remain buried forever.
Then one day, Georgina came to me.
"Humphrey, let's date."
In twenty years of living, it was the first time I felt like I'd won the lottery.
I threw myself into making her happy, pouring every ounce of effort into helping her chase her dreams. She wanted to join a polar expedition, so I took care of her family back home and supported her with everything I had.
When she got pregnant, I gave up my own career and volunteered to come to the Arctic with her, just so I could look after her.
The happiest moments of my life were dating Georgina, marrying her, and the promise of a new life growing inside her.
But now I finally understood how staggeringly foolish I'd been. How catastrophically wrong.
The people inside were laughing. A single door separated two worlds.
Kneeling on the ground, I heard Bryan and Georgina pouring their hearts out to each other.
"If I hadn't been trying to spite you, why would I have ever agreed to date Humphrey, let alone marry him?"
"Georgina, I regret it. If I hadn't gone abroad back then, we never would have..."
Bryan's hand rested on Georgina's belly, his expression tender.
A layer of snow had settled over my body. I watched the softness on Georgina's face, a warmth she had never once shown me, and let out a bitter laugh.
Well, it wasn't too late for them to be together now, was it?
After all, the child in her belly was Bryan's.
I could die anywhere, but I refused to die at the door of this base.
With nothing but a final thread of breath left in me, I was finally allowed inside. I staggered to my feet. Those last few steps, I practically crawled through the door.
The sight of me only deepened Georgina's disgust.
"Stop with the pity act, Humphrey. You make me sick."
I didn't bother defending myself. I dragged myself toward a heat source, and the snow melting off my clothes dripped onto the floor, leaving a spreading puddle.
"Disgusting. Make sure you clean that up."
I was shaking too hard to answer. Several fingers on my left hand still had no feeling.
Georgina left. She was worried about the scrape on Bryan's shin and insisted the base doctor examine him.
When she saw me heading toward the doctor, she planted herself in the doorway and refused to let me take another step.
"What do you think you're doing? You're not coming in here!"
"The doctor is busy. He doesn't have time for your little problems. Stay away from Bryan. Get out!"
Her face was a wall of hostility. She told me I wasn't acting like a man and ordered me back to my room.
I changed into dry clothes, but my fingers still had no sensation. The skin had started to discolor. I frowned and tried to push past her.
"I just need to see the doctor for one minute, you—"
Slap!
Before I could finish, her palm cracked across my face. She glared at me, eyebrows drawn sharp, and blocked my path completely.
Amid the jeers of the onlookers, she shot me a smug glance, then quickly looked away.
"Quit faking it. What could possibly be wrong with you? You climbed out of a crevasse and walked all the way back to base. You're built like a cockroach. Bryan isn't like you."
"You can see the doctor tomorrow. Tonight, you stay away from the infirmary!"
My cheek burned. So did my temper.
I opened my mouth to argue, but the others shoved me away from the infirmary door.
"Enough, enough. Go back to your room and sleep it off!"
"Your own wife is pregnant and you want to start a fight? Go tomorrow."
"The gorgeous Miss Gilbert already told you how it is. What more do you want, you spineless wimp?"
