A Heartbeat Away

All I could hear were screams in my hospital room when I was a toddler. I didn’t know what was happening—my mom yelling at the doctor, my dad trying to calm her down. I heard my name through her cries.

“Emma!”

“Emma!”

I gasped, jolting upright in my bed, panting. “Are you okay?” a voice beside me asked.

“Uh, yeah.”

I felt a sharp sting in my chest. Slipping out of bed quietly, I noticed Elijah stirring but ultimately sinking back into sleep. I made my way to the bathroom, stopping to look at myself in the mirror. Reaching for the cabinet, I grabbed my pills and swallowed one. My black light skin glowed beneath the bathroom light, my black hair tied up in a messy bun. My eyes looked tired, like I hadn’t slept in days. Rubbing them, I returned to bed, slipping beside Elijah, who was still sound asleep.

The next morning, I went for a jog around our neighborhood. Returning home sweaty and breathless, I stopped in the kitchen for some water. Elijah appeared, already dressed in his work clothes.

He kissed me on the forehead. “See you later. Oh, don’t forget, I’ve got to work late tonight. Don’t wait up.”

“Again?”

“I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” He smiled faintly before heading out the door.

With a sigh, I sat down with my coffee, attempting to relax. Then I glanced at the clock—my virtual meeting was in less than an hour. I rushed to the bathroom, pulled my hair into a professional bun, and dressed in a crisp white blouse and black pants. I settled at the kitchen table, set up my laptop, and joined the meeting.

“Good morning!” my boss Elise greeted us with her usual cheerful voice.

“Good morning,” most of us echoed, and I muted my mic.

“I’m so proud to share that our company’s recent promotion has been a massive success,” Elise said, her smile wide. Her short brown wavy hair framed her face, red lipstick adding a bold touch. Behind her, her elegant home gleamed on display.

I tried to focus, but my chest tightened. A sharp sting radiated through my ribs, making it hard to breathe. My hand instinctively clutched my chest as I closed my eyes and tried to steady my breathing. The pain dulled after a few moments. Without my medication, it would have lasted longer.

When the meeting ended, I drank a glass of water and returned to my project. I worked with DWYL (Do What You Love), a clothing brand where I helped manage their media content. Hours passed before I paused to make an egg sandwich.

Later, I curled up on the couch with some popcorn and watched a movie alone. Dinner was a lonely affair too, a common pattern lately with Elijah working late so often. Afterward, I took my heart medication again and went to bed.

The next morning, I woke early. Elijah was still asleep, and I decided to jog. The air was crisp as I ran three laps around the block. Returning home, I chugged water from the fridge when Elijah startled me from behind.

“Hey,” he said. “I’m off early today, so why don’t we go out to a nice restaurant?” He rubbed my shoulders, smiling.

“Sure.”

“Great. My treat.” He kissed my head before heading out the door.

I frowned. I had hoped for something more intimate—something that showed he missed me as much as I missed him. But I was used to disappointments with Elijah.

That evening, I dressed in a short red dress with matching heels. My black hair flowed in soft waves, framing my face. When Elijah finally came home, he barely looked at me.

“I almost thought you weren’t coming home,” I teased, forcing a smile.

“What are you talking about?” he muttered, distracted, running his fingers through his disheveled hair.

“I mean for our date.”

“Oh, right,” he said, his eyes darting away. “We can still go.”

His mind was somewhere else. Ever since he walked through the door, I knew something was off.