𝐔𝐆𝐋𝐘 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇

TWELVE

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. 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 straighten my trench coat. A man in a nice tidy uniform answers.

"Yes?" He asks. He was pretty old, white hair and all, yet he wore the calmest expression. "Hi, my name is Ana. I'm looking for Alex." 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. I know if I did, I would never cry again. 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 but I feel as if it were an eternity. Life had been hard without him and everyday I couldn't believe that I was alive before meeting 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."

"Oh no, thank you." I say, clutching onto it. He nods and walks away. I follow Alex into a hallway and into 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 or reassurance. "Okay. Remember the other day at the hospital?" He nods.

"Well the doctor gave me the news. I just wanted to tell you because—"

I pause. I go again.
"Because..." I stop, not being able to word anything. 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.

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

I reveal my body to him and his eyes fall on my small growing belly. That day, the doctor told me, my world was crushed and now I had told Alex, his world was crushed as well.