Jesse Ortiz

I posted a photo of myself, six months pregnant, on Instagram. When Kieran saw it, the color drained from his face. Before long, he had me locked away in a private psychiatric clinic. All because that photo sent Carla into another spiral of depression. Carla has MRKH syndrome. No uterus. Can’t have children. And to make her feel better, Kieran decided to give me, his six-month-pregnant wife, 101 rounds of electroshock. I begged him to spare my baby. He didn't even flinch. After the first hundred shocks, chunks of my skin were dead. Bone showing. For the 101st shock, Kieran personally placed the electrodes on my stomach. He stared down at my belly, his voice cold as ice. “Everyone knows Carla can't have children.” “But you just had to post that photo, didn't you? Triggered her relapse.” “I’ve been too lenient with you. That’s why you’ve gotten so bold.” “Now, you’re going to feel the same pain she does during one of her episodes.” The high-voltage current burned straight through my abdomen. Amniotic fluid and blood gushed from the wound, exposing my organs. And when Carla’s surgery was a success, Kieran wept with joy. He even threw her a thirty-six-day party on a cruise ship. When he finally remembered I was still in that clinic, his assistant called. “Sir… our people found Mrs. Vitale in the hospital morgue…” ... The first hundred shocks had already burned my skin raw. My body was seized by convulsions, and I’d lost control of my bladder, soaking the table beneath me. I stared in terror as Kieran’s hand reached for my stomach. Tears blurred my vision. “Kieran, please, spare the baby… I won’t ask for anything ever again.” “Just let me have our child, and I’ll leave. I promise.” “If you don’t believe me, I swear it. I’ll disappear from your life forever.” Beside him, Carla lowered her head, her voice trembling. “Kieran… I don’t understand what I did to make Blythe hate me so much.” “Why would she use my infertility to humiliate me like this?” Kieran raised a hand and stroked her hair. “You’ve suffered enough, Carla.” “It’s all right. You’ll be better soon.” “I’ve already scheduled an appointment with the best specialist in the country. I’ll take you there myself.” Then he turned, his gaze falling back to my stomach. “Carla can’t have children. Everyone knows to avoid the subject.” “But you just had to post that photo to provoke her and cause another breakdown.” “I’ve been too good to you. That’s why you’ve forgotten your place.” “Now it’s time you understood the kind of pain she endures.” He pressed the button. Electricity tore through my stomach, a thousand needles stabbing into every nerve. I thrashed against the restraints, my arms straining, but it was useless. In the end, all I could do was scream. “Kieran Vitale, if my baby dies, I’ll never forgive you, not even in death!” He only smiled. “Good. I’ll be waiting.” Carla’s eyes reddened. “Kieran, please don’t let this damage your marriage. I’d feel so guilty.” “She’s not worth your guilt.” With that, he pressed the button again, turning the current higher. My body snapped taut, and the area beneath me was soaked once more. “Admit you were wrong, and I’ll have them stop.” He tossed the words out carelessly, then left with Carla. A few seconds after they walked out, the current suddenly surged. Sheets of my skin sloughed off, exposing the white of my bones. A wound had been burned open across my stomach. The current was relentless, searing the wound open. I remembered the operators outside the door and summoned the last of my strength. “Help me… please, help me…” The technician outside looked troubled. “Ma’am, it’s not that I don’t want to help you.” “You know Mr. Vitale’s reputation.” “One word from him, and I’m blacklisted in this city.” “Don’t worry. This level is supposed to be ......