With You

Chapter - 5

The morning sun barely warmed the air as Y/N and Rosie stepped out of their small cottage, hand in hand, on their way to the hospital. It was a quiet morning, but something felt different in the air—an unsettling undercurrent that made Y/N’s gut twist slightly. Today was supposed to be important, a chance to focus on Rosie and their baby, but as they walked down the narrow dirt road, they could feel eyes on them—too many eyes.

They hadn’t even reached the town center yet when they encountered a group of older women standing outside a small bakery. Their chatter halted abruptly the moment Y/N and Rosie walked past, replaced by low murmurs and judgmental glances. Y/N felt the weight of their stares, the way their eyes narrowed as if they were scrutinizing every inch of their existence. She squeezed Rosie’s hand a little tighter, trying to ignore the prickling feeling crawling up her spine.

Rosie, too, noticed the sharp whispers and sidelong glances. She kept her head down, trying to focus on the road ahead, but it was impossible not to feel the cold sting of judgment.

"That’s them, isn’t it?" one of the women muttered not-so-quietly.

"Yes, the girls who are… well, you know," another responded, her voice dripping with disdain. "Such a shame. At their age, too. What are they thinking?"

"Disgraceful," a third voice chimed in. "Having a baby out of wedlock like that. It’s not right. Not right at all."

Y/N’s ears burned, and anger simmered just beneath her skin. She clenched her jaw, trying to fight the urge to turn around and confront them. What did they know about her and Rosie? What did they know about the struggles they’d been through, the love they shared, and the child they were determined to protect? But the whispers only grew louder, as if the townspeople were emboldened by each other's gossip.

"They should be ashamed of themselves," another voice said, louder this time, as if daring Y/N and Rosie to hear. "Parading around like nothing’s wrong. What kind of example are they setting?"

Rosie flinched at the words, her fingers trembling slightly as she gripped Y/N’s hand. Y/N could feel Rosie’s discomfort growing by the second, and it broke her heart to see the pain in her eyes. Rosie didn’t deserve this. None of it.

"Ignore them," Y/N whispered softly, though her own heart ached with frustration. "They don’t know anything about us."

Rosie nodded weakly but said nothing. The murmurs followed them like a dark cloud, the judgment clinging to the air around them. It was suffocating, and with each step, it felt as though the entire town was watching, gossiping, disapproving of their very existence.

As they passed by more people, Y/N noticed even more whispers, more disgusted looks. Some of the men turned their backs to them, while a few women shook their heads in silent condemnation. It was as if the whole town had decided to pass judgment on them, their close-mindedness poisoning every corner of the countryside.

Y/N felt her anger rising again, but this time, it was mixed with sadness. These people—their neighbors, the community—had no idea what they had been through. They had no idea about the sleepless nights of worry, the fear of the unknown, and the strength it took just to keep going. All they saw was two young girls, far too young in their opinion, trying to navigate a future that was uncertain but full of love.

As they both neared the hospital, the familiar building coming into view, their steps quickened, eager to escape the suffocating whispers that had followed them through the town. But just as they were about to cross the final stretch of road, a group of people stepped out from a small alley, blocking their path.

“Excuse me,” an older man said sharply, his voice full of authority. His rough hands were tucked into the pockets of his worn-out coat, and his gaze was anything but welcoming.