Broken

Chapter 43: Trials and tribulations

The present, Fatima sat slumped on the bathroom floor, her back resting against the cold tile of the counter. Her head was spinning, and the nausea had only just subsided after what felt like the longest bout of vomiting she'd ever experienced. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, staring at the ceiling as if it might provide some answers.

"Okay... I think I know what this means," she muttered to herself, her voice barely above a whisper.

The realization settled in her mind like a lead weight. But the thought was immediately followed by a wave of denial. Not now. Not while everything was falling apart around her. She couldn't deal with this, not on top of everything else. She wasn't ready to confront the truth, and deep down, she knew exactly what she was avoiding.

Taking a test, or even going to the doctor, felt like opening a door she wasn't prepared to walk through. If she was pregnant, that meant everything would change. And right now, her life was already in pieces—her business, her reputation, her freedom—everything was on the line. The last thing she needed was another complication.

The bathroom door creaked open slowly, and Zac stepped in, his eyes immediately locking onto her as she sat there on the floor. Concern was written all over his face.

"Ti, you alright?" he asked softly, kneeling down beside her. He brushed a few stray strands of hair away from her damp forehead, his touch gentle but filled with worry.

Fatima shook her head slightly, not trusting herself to speak just yet. Her stomach churned again, but she forced herself to breathe, trying to steady the overwhelming tide of emotions threatening to crash over her.

"I don't know," she finally whispered, her voice shaky. "I think... I might be pregnant."

Zac's hand froze mid-motion as he processed her words. His eyes searched hers for a moment, looking for clarity in the storm. "Are you sure?" he asked quietly, his tone measured, though she could see the slight panic beneath his calm demeanor.

"I haven't taken a test or gone to the doctor yet," she admitted, her voice sounding far away even to her own ears. "But... I know my body." She glanced up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and uncertainty, she had been here before. "I just... I can't deal with this right now. There's too much happening, Zac."

He took a deep breath, sitting down beside her on the floor, his shoulder lightly brushing against hers. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence between them heavy with the weight of the situation.

"I get it," Zac finally said, his voice soft. "I know everything's a mess right now, but... if this is happening, I'm right here." He reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. "You don't have to go through this alone, Fatima. I'm not going anywhere."

Fatima closed her eyes, the warmth of his hand grounding her, but it didn't lessen the overwhelming sense of dread gnawing at her insides. "But what if I'm not ready?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Then we'll take things one step at a time. You don't have to make any decisions right now, Ti," Zac said, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand. "Let's just breathe for a second."

Fatima leaned her head back against the counter, letting out a shaky exhale. "It's not just that, Zac. The media is all over me, the police are building a case against me, and I'm supposed to go on trial in the next 2 weeks. I don't even know what's going to happen with my company. I can't—" Her voice cracked, and she stopped, biting her lip to keep the tears at bay.

Zac shifted, positioning himself so he could look her in the eyes. "I know this is a lot. I know it feels like everything's crashing down on you right now. But I promise you, we'll get through it. You've built everything you have from the ground up. You've fought harder than anyone else to get where you are. You're not going to lose it all now."