"What?" Owen Lawliet's eyes widened as his wife greeted him with a message as he came into the house through the front door. He hoped he hadn't misheard. "Victoria, what did you say?"
Victoria laughed once more, and held Owen's shoulders, with a wide grin on her face. "Owen…I'm pregnant! I'm pregnant!"
Tears in his eyes, Owen picked up his wife in a sweep of his arms and kissed her. "I…I can't believe it! We're going to have a child…we're going to be parents…"
Victoria kissed him back. "In a matter of time, dear."
Victoria and Owen Lawliet lived in a small town in Hampshire. After starting their lives together as a married couple, Victoria quit her job as a librarian, and Owen continued his job as a lawyer. They were a very happy and pleasant couple.
Until their son was born several months later.
.:.:.:.
Owen cursed under his breath as he speeded in the highway. He shouldn't have gone to work today. What kind of husband was he, going to the office, on the day Victoria was having their child? How could he have NOT known?
He was only a mile away from the hospital. Only a mile. Only-
BEEP BEEP BEEEEEEEEP
Owen swerved the steering wheel to evade a car, who was going too slow. He groaned. "Ahh! Watch where you're going!" He yelled as the car drove away.
A few minutes later, he went up the elevator in the hospital, heading to the second floor where the delivery room was.
After bursting open the doors of the room, the first thing he saw was a little baby boy, cradled in the arms of one of the nurses.
The second thing he saw was Victoria, still and pale, black hair strewn messily around her face so that it covered her eyes and nose. Her mouth was agape open, as if she was asleep.
A doctor hurried to Owen, and placed a hand on his shoulder, apologetically.
But before he could say anything to the distraught father, Owen collapsed on the tile floor, sobbing.