𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐑𝐄 | 𝓟𝓮𝓭𝓻𝓸 𝓟𝓪𝓼𝓬𝓪𝓵 |

25

The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the hotel suite. The party the night before had been a whirlwind of excitement and celebration. Pedro, as always, had been the life of the party, charming everyone and enjoying himself thoroughly. I, on the other hand, had a far different experience.

As I sat in the backyard of our hotel, sipping a cup of tea and watching the waves crash against the LA beach, I replayed the events of the previous night in my mind. The nausea and anxiety that had plagued me for days had come to a head, and I could no longer ignore the signs. Pedro had been oblivious to my distress, lost in his revelry, and I couldn’t bring myself to spoil his fun by admitting how awful I felt.

After the party, we had taken a cab back to the hotel. Pedro had fallen asleep almost instantly after hitting the bed, leaving me alone with my thoughts and my churning stomach. I had spent most of the night in the bathroom, vomiting and worrying, unable to rest. By the time the sun rose, I had barely slept a wink, and the exhaustion weighed heavily on me.

Around 6 AM, desperate for some fresh air and clarity, I went for a walk along the beach. I called Courtney, seeking her support and advice. She insisted I see a doctor and urged me to tell Pedro, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Not yet.

Now, sitting in the backyard, I tried to steady my nerves. Courtney had even threatened to come over and force me to tell Pedro if I didn’t do it soon. I took a deep breath, feeling the tension in my shoulders. I had to figure this out, and soon.

Suddenly, I felt a familiar pair of arms wrap around me from behind. Pedro's scent enveloped me as he kissed my cheek and murmured a sleepy, "Good morning."

I managed a smile as he moved to sit beside me. He was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, his hair still damp from a shower. His expression was worried.

"Cathy, I've been worried about you," he said softly. "Last night, you were acting really weird. You didn't drink, you kept talking to Courtney, and you wouldn't dance with me. And now you're out here instead of staying in bed with me. What's going on?"

I felt my eyes fill with tears, and I stood up, trying to calm myself. "Pedro, I haven't been feeling well. My stomach's been upset, I've had headaches, I'm so tired all the time..."

Pedro interrupted, his concern deepening. "Why didn’t you tell me? We could have left the party. You didn’t have to suffer through it."

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. "It was your party, Pedro. I didn’t want to ruin your moment. You were having such a good time."

He stood up, his frustration evident. "It's not about me, Cath. You should have told me. We need to communicate. How can I help you if you don’t tell me what's going on?"

His words cut deep, and I felt my resolve crumbling. "Pedro, I'm pregnant," I blurted out, my voice breaking. The silence that followed was deafening.

Pedro's eyes widened in shock, his hands covering his mouth as he stared at me. I could see the wheels turning in his mind, trying to process what I had just said. The anxiety in my chest grew unbearable as the seconds ticked by with no response from him.

"Pedro, say something," I pleaded, my voice trembling. "Please."

But he remained silent, his expression a mix of astonishment and confusion. My heart broke as the tears flowed freely. "You don't have to take care of anything. It's my fault. I'll handle it."

I stumbled out of Pedro's house, my mind spinning with disbelief and regret. His stunned silence echoed in my ears, a heavy weight on my chest that made it hard to breathe. I hurriedly gathered my things, feeling the weight of his gaze still lingering on me, frozen in that moment of revelation.

My hands trembled as I fumbled for my phone, struggling to dial Courtney's number through the blur of tears. Each ring felt like an eternity until she finally picked up, her voice a lifeline in the midst of my turmoil.

"Catherine, what's wrong? Where are you?" Courtney's voice was urgent, tinged with concern.

"I... I messed up, Courtney," I choked out between sobs, my words barely coherent. "I told him.. ."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, filled with understanding and sympathy. "Oh, Cath," Courtney sighed softly. "I'm on my way. Tell me where you are."

I managed to blurt out Pedro's address before hanging up, my heart racing with fear and uncertainty. Leaning against the cold exterior of Pedro's house, I stared out into the empty street. The weight of my confession hung heavy in the air, and I felt exposed, vulnerable, and utterly lost.

When Courtney's car screeched to a stop in front of me, I climbed in silently, enveloped by her comforting presence. She didn't press me with questions, instead wrapping me in a supportive embrace that spoke volumes of her understanding and care. "It's going to be okay, Cath," she murmured gently, her voice a soothing balm against the storm raging inside me. "We are going to a doctor, now."

I nodded weakly, feeling a mixture of relief and despair wash over me. As we drove away from Pedro's house, I stared out the window, my thoughts swirling with regret and longing. I had hoped for understanding, for reassurance that we could face this together. But Pedro's silence had been deafening, leaving me adrift in a sea of uncertainty.

Courtney's steady presence beside me grounded me in the midst of my turmoil. Her hand in mine offered silent strength and solidarity, reminding me that I wasn't alone in this overwhelming moment. As we navigated the quiet streets, I clung to her words of comfort, holding onto the fragile hope that somehow, we would find a way forward.

But deep down, the ache of Pedro's silence lingered, a stark reminder of the fragile bond now hanging in the balance.

To be continued...