Never Not You

One good thing

Inside the bathroom, Alexia tried to find words of comfort amidst the heavy silence that followed Aurora's heart breaking discovery. "It might not be correct," she offered tentatively, her voice filled with hope despite the palpable tension.

Aurora remained quiet, her expression a mixture of anguish and resignation as she stared at the floor.

Just then, Eli knocked gently on the bathroom door. "Can we come in?" she asked softly, her concern evident.

Alexia nodded, her voice barely audible as she responded, "Yes, Mami."

Eli entered the bathroom, her eyes immediately falling on the discarded pregnancy test lying on the floor. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself as she glanced at Aurora and then at Alexia.

"How about we go to the doctor and see for sure?" Eli suggested gently, her voice a blend of compassion and practicality.

Aurora nodded silently, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She didn't trust herself to speak, the weight of the situation pressing down on her shoulders.

Alexia stood up slowly, offering her hand to Aurora. "Let's go," she said softly, her voice steady despite her own turmoil.

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At the doctor's office, the atmosphere was tense as Aurora, Alexia, and Eli waited anxiously for the test results that would confirm Aurora's pregnancy. The minutes dragged on as they sat in the small examination room, each lost in their own thoughts and fears.

Finally, the doctor returned with the results. His expression was serious as he delivered the news. "The tests confirm that you are pregnant," he said gently, his tone compassionate yet matter-of-fact. "Based on the calculations, you're approximately 15 weeks along."

Aurora's heart sank at the confirmation she had dreaded. She nodded silently, her eyes filling with tears once more.

The doctor studied her carefully, his professional demeanour softened by empathy. "Did you have any suspicion before today?" he asked gently.

Aurora took a shaky breath, feeling a wave of emotions crashing over her. She glanced at Alexia and Eli, grateful for their presence but unable to find the words to answer the doctor's question.

Alexia stepped in, her voice steady despite her own turmoil. "We... we only found out today," she explained quietly, her hand reaching out to grip Aurora's in silent support.

Eli nodded in agreement, her concern etched on her face as she looked at Aurora with maternal tenderness.

Aurora hesitated, her voice wavering as she tried to explain. "I... I thought maybe it was stress," she admitted quietly. "That's why my periods didn't come."

The doctor nodded understandingly, his expression sympathetic. "Stress can certainly affect menstrual cycles," he acknowledged. "But it appears in your case, it was due to pregnancy."

Aurora nodded silently, her thoughts swirling with the implications of everything she had just learned.

The doctor continued, discussing prenatal care and addressing any concerns Aurora and her companions had. He emphasized the importance of regular check-ups and monitoring, ensuring Aurora understood her options moving forward.

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Mapi arrived at Alexia's apartment a few days later, where Aurora had decided it was time to share her news. Alexia set up her phone to quietly record the moment, capturing the emotions that would unfold.

Aurora greeted Mapi with a warm hug, her smile tinged with a hint of nervousness. "I have something for you," she said, leading Mapi to the living room where a small wrapped box sat on the coffee table.

Mapi looked intrigued but slightly puzzled as she accepted the box from Aurora. "What's this?" she asked curiously.

Aurora smiled softly. "Open it," she encouraged.

With a quizzical expression, Mapi carefully unwrapped the box and lifted the lid. Inside, she found a kid-sized ball, colourful and playful. She looked up at Aurora, her confusion evident.

Aurora gently urged, "Turn it over."

Curious now, Mapi flipped the ball over, and attached to it was a note. She carefully peeled it off and read aloud, "Keep this for when I can walk so we can play together, Aunt Mapi."

Mapi's eyes widened with realization as she turned over the note, revealing a picture of a baby scan. Emotion washed over her face as she looked up at Aurora, her hand instinctively going to her mouth to stifle a gasp.

Her initial shock and confusion turned into tears as she processed the weight of Aurora's revelation. "I'm so sorry, Aurora," she managed to say amidst her tears, her voice trembling with emotion.

Aurora reached out and took Mapi's hands in hers, offering a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Mapi," she said softly. "I guess one good thing came out of it, right?"

Mapi nodded, her tears continuing to flow as she looked at Aurora with a mix of sadness and joy. "Can I... can I touch your belly?" she asked tentatively.

Aurora nodded, her own emotions raw but tempered with a sense of acceptance. "There's not much to touch yet," she admitted quietly.

Mapi chuckled lightly through her tears, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, I'll just have to imagine," she joked softly, gently resting her hand on Aurora's abdomen.

Aurora smiled gratefully at Mapi, appreciating her support and understanding in that moment.

Mapi then turned to Alexia, who was still recording the scene with watery eyes. "I can't believe you knew before me!" she teased, faking offense to lighten the mood further.

Alexia laughed softly, her own emotions still close to the surface. "I swear, we only found out a few days ago, and this one made me look at the results of the test" she admitted, wiping away tears of happiness.