Jane was awoken suddenly in the night by the strangest feeling in her abdomen. It was sharp, and quick, and it ended as quickly as it had begun. it had almost gone away enough for Jane to sleep when it happened again. Jane sat up, clutching her side in pain. She was warm, overwhelmed, and this time the pain did not go away. She quickly flipped back the sheets and saw that she was covered in a pool of dark blood.

"No" she whispered, fright flooding her veins.

Standing up, Jane saw the full extent of the state of herself. She too was covered in blood- the pain was agonizing.

"No, no" she called, rousing her husband from sleep.

"Jane?" Edward asked sleepily. He saw her standing beside the bed and quickly was on his feet and at her side.

"Jane my darling, are you alright?"

"I just felt- and the blood, Edward the blood".

She was starting to panic now, she pulled herself from his arm and paced the room, her hand touching her forehead as she stared off blankly into space.

"Jane, what is it?"

But she wasn't listening, she didn't even feel him take her arm again.

"No, no, the baby, it cannot be coming now"

Jane was more frantic than ever. Her mind was raving faster than it ever had. Too many emotions threatened to overtake her. Her hand fell on her forehead and she pushed her hair back forcefully. Edward stepped before her, placing his hand on her heart.

"Breathe. Breathe. Breathe".

She looked into his eyes, trying to calm herself , but was frightened by her own sharp inhale.

"That's it, that's it".

"It's too early" Jane cried frantically, her eyes wide, "It is too early".

"It's alright, it's okay, it's okay"

"What do I-" but Jane's voice was frail, and she could not continue. She put her forearm on her husbands shoulder, trying to balance herself from collapsing. Though she did not acknowledge him, he followed her intently with his face, trying to connect with her. He put his hands on her waist, staring into her face.

"Make it stop" she pleaded pitifully, "Make it stop".

Anguish spread over his features.

"What can I do?"

Jane backed away from him, covering her mouth in horror. Yet he did not release his grasp on her arm. Tears now spilled from her eyes. She looked at him in a desperate prayer.

"It's too early" she groaned, sobs issuing from her, "Oh God, no, no, no"

"Shh" he soothed, and yet his composure started to slip into panic too.

"Jane, what can I do? Tell me what to do?"

She shook her head desperately, her head felt as if it would burst. He guided her back against so that she fell onto a nearby table. He dropped before her, holding her still around the waist and looking up at her.

"Tell me" he begged

"Save it" she cried in desperation, "You have to save it".

"Our child is gone, my darling. You must let me help you"

"No" she begged, crumpling on the floor, "No".

Shock caused Jane to not recall the way her husband had brought her back to the bed. He lay her on his side and removed the blankets that were now soaked in her blood. Her breathing continued to be sharp and irregular, she could not catch her breath. She did not remember how he had removed her from her bloodstained clothes, and pulled off his own nightshirt to slip over her, before grabbing another of his own along with a jug of water.

He lay beside her in bed, dabbing her burning forehead with cool water. For a second, his face, the cool water, and the smell of him in his shirt slowed her attack of panic. She gasped for air, looking into her husbands face.

"Our baby"

"Yes, my darling" he said, his voice breaking slightly.

"It is gone?"

"It is gone".

He could not risk long phrases, for then his voice would break fully, and he would have no strength left for her.

"Why?"

He continued to soothe her with the cold water. It drew her back from slipping into the unconscious. He drew the blankets up around her and pulled her hair back away from her face. How broken was her soul, how shattered her heart. She grasped his arm which was applying the cloth to her cheek and cried in sadness. He pulled her into a close embrace, holding the back of her head in his hand. Her sobs pierced his ear and she pulled desperately at the back of his shirt.

"Oh God, why?".