𝐔𝐆𝐋𝐘 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇

ELEVEN

ANA

3 MONTHS LATER

I look down at the slip of paper I have, making sure it's the right address. I look up at the building. It was huge. A whole mansion. Just looking at it made me feel my self-worth slip away. I stand at the entrance and raise my hand to ring the bell, but my anxiety eats me away.

I take a deep breath, hand on chest. It's going to be okay. We'll figure something out. I press the doorbell and wait patiently, adjusting my hair quickly and straightening my trench coat. A man in a nice, tidy uniform answers.

"Yes?" He asks. He was pretty old, with white hair and all, yet he wore the calmest expression. "Good day, my name is Ana. I'm looking for Alex de Léon." I say, trying not to stutter. "Mmm, please come," He holds the door open for me, and I walk in.

This place takes my breath away. It was a vast room that had a fancy, delicate chandelier hanging from the top, white walls, clear glass tables with trinkets and candies, portraits of Renaissance art up on the walls, and a fancy spiral staircase leading up to the next floor. To the sides of the room were two doors leading into a mystery.

My eyes wandered. How wonderful it must be to live here. The butler tells me to stay while he tells Alex I'm here. I continue to examine the house. All of a sudden, I'm left completely breathless when I see Alex. He stands there, in shock.

It's only been three months since we broke up that day in the hospital, but I feel as if it were an eternity. Life had been hard without him, and every day, I couldn't believe that I had a life before him.

He was my reason to live life with colors. Then, it became black and white until now. All the colors are flooding back, and I can feel my stomach flutter with excitement. "Ana..." A small smile crept onto his lips. I felt one creep onto mine, too.

"Hi. I need to talk to you." I say, my face becoming serious. He nods. "Of course. Follow me,"

His butler quickly stops me. "Your coat, miss." My heart races at his gesture to take it off.

"Oh no, thank you," I say, clutching onto it. He nods and walks away. I follow Alex into a hallway and a room. It was a big, messy room, filled with books, papers, pens, and all sorts of familiar stuff. "Welcome to my study." He says, sitting down on his chair. I sit across from him.

"I like it," I say. We stay silent, words I wish I could say. How do I even start this? I was about to ruin his life.

"You had something to tell me?" He asks, awkwardly. "Yeah." I chuckle even more awkwardly. "Uh, I don't know how to—"

I feel Alex put his hand on top of mine, and I look up. He's smiling at me, and I feel a surge of reassurance. "Okay. Remember the other day at the hospital?" He nods.

"Well, the doctor gave me unexpected news about my health. I just wanted to tell you because—"

I pause. I go again.
"Because..." I stop, not being able to word anything correctly. Even though I had rehearsed this countless times, I couldn't get it out. All the doubts filled me and it terrified me. But I was here. Alex was here. There was no going back. That day I met him, that blissful year we were together, and those lustful nights I longed for with all my soul. I wanted all of it back. But in the end, he made the decision. I sigh and stand up.

If I couldn't say it, I would have to show him.

"Alex, I have..."

I unbutton my trench coat and take it off, revealing my body to him. His eyes fall on my small, growing belly.

"Alex, I'm pregnant. With your child."

That day, the doctor told me I was pregnant, and my world was crushed. But I was certain I was going to have this baby. Alex deserves to know. It's his choice if he'll take responsibility, so I stand here, vulnerable to him. Waiting for a decision.