The Timer of Death

"After three miscarriages for Xavier Lowe, I see it—my mother-in-law has three years left, my father-in-law nine years, and my sister-in-law two years.I say nothing.After the third miscarriage, my mother-in-law blames me, calling me a curse who "kills" children.My sister-in-law sneers, saying she almost died in a car crash the year I married Xavier—as if my bad luck dragged her down.My mother-in-law snaps, "She can't even keep a child. It must be because she's cursed!"Xavier just stands there, silent. He doesn't say a single word for me. I know that, deep down, he believes that I bring bad luck. Maybe it's also because he already has someone else—his secretary, Yvette Snyder.His mother has always liked her better, and he clung to her the night I lost my third child.I don't explain because I know the truth will only destroy them faster.On my 28th birthday, I catch a glimpse of my own countdown in the mirror. On that day, I take a leave of absence. I go to the funeral home and pick out an urn—pure white, just like the wedding dress I once wore.Wearing a beautiful floral dress, I text Xavier, asking him to meet me at the lake where we first met ten years ago.I wait from daylight until nightfall as my countdown ticks to zero.I die, and he never shows up."