Heart at risk

10. frontlines, don't you ignore me

The house was quiet, with only the soft rustling of the wind through the trees outside breaking the stillness of the night. Penelope sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers lightly tracing the intricate patterns on the quilt beneath her. The warmth of the evening clung to the air, but a cold knot of tension had settled in her chest.

Colin had retreated to his own room, leaving Penelope to the solitude of her thoughts and the small, nagging fears that kept her awake each night. Tonight was no different. She had just finished brushing her hair and was preparing to slide under the covers when she felt it—a delicate flutter, like the wings of a butterfly, deep within her abdomen. She froze, her breath catching in her throat. The sensation was unfamiliar, foreign, and for a moment, pure panic seized her.

Penelope's heart began to race, a wild panic rising within her. What was that? Her mind leapt to the worst possible conclusions. Was something wrong with the baby? Was this the beginning of a miscarriage? She thought back to Colin's concerned words from weeks ago—miscarriage, cramping, danger. Her pulse quickened, and she felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead.

She stood up abruptly, her legs shaky and unsteady beneath her. The room seemed to close in around her as her breathing grew rapid and shallow. Penelope clutched her stomach, her mind racing. Was this the end? Was something terrible happening? Her thoughts were a jumble of fear and confusion, and she couldn't think clearly.

Desperation drove her from her room. She stumbled into the hallway, her bare feet slapping against the wooden floor as she hurried toward Colin's room. Her vision blurred with unshed tears, and she couldn't focus on anything except the growing terror in her chest. She reached Colin's door and paused, her hand hovering over the doorknob. What if he did not care? What if he dismissed her fears?

Colin was seated at his desk, his back to her, deep in thought. Papers were strewn across the surface, evidence of the long hours he'd been working. The soft creak of the door drew his attention, and he turned to see her standing there, her face pale and eyes wide with fear.

'Penelope?' His voice was gentle, concerned. He stood immediately, closing the space between them in a few quick strides. 'What is wrong?'

She couldn't find the words at first, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach as if to protect the life inside. 'I... I felt something. Something strange. I do not know what it is, but...' Her voice broke, and she trembled visibly.

Colin's expression softened, the tension between them evaporating in an instant as he saw the depth of her fear. He reached out, his hands hovering uncertainly before finally resting gently on her shoulders. His touch was warm, grounding her in the present moment. 'All is well,' he murmured, his voice a soothing balm to her frayed nerves. 'Tell me exactly what you felt.'

Penelope shook her head, struggling to calm the whirlwind of emotions inside her. 'It was like... like a flutter. I have never felt it before. It was not painful, just... odd.' She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back the tears threatening to spill over. 'Colin, what if something's wrong? What if—'

A slow, relieved smile spread across Colin's face as he gently cut her off. 'Penelope, it's natural to feel tha-'

Before he could continue, Penelope's voice cut through, sharp and filled with anxiety. 'Is this it, Colin? Is the baby dying? Am I dying?'

Colin looked at her, his concern deepening as he saw the raw fear in her eyes. He took a step closer, his hands trembling slightly as he reached out to gently cradle her face in his palms. 'Hey, hey stop.' He looked deeply into her eyes, his own filled with a mix of sorrow and unwavering commitment. 'You are not dying,' he said firmly but gently. 'Neither is the baby.'