The Weight of Tomorrow (A Marina Story)

Chapter Three

Over the following days, Maya's mood continued to plummet. Each morning, she woke feeling grumpy and sensitive, her body heavy with negative emotions that weighed her down. The anxiety of waiting for results had morphed into a dull ache in her chest that lingered throughout her day. Despite Carina's best efforts to remain positive and supportive, nothing seemed to lift Maya's spirits.

One evening, overwhelmed by her feelings, Maya snapped at Carina over something trivial. The moment the words left her mouth, she felt a rush of guilt wash over her. "I'm so sorry," she apologized immediately, her heart aching as she noticed the hurt in Carina's eyes.

Carina, trying not to let her wife's snapping affect her, replied, "It's okay, bambina. I know you're going through a lot right now." She pulled Maya into a comforting hug, holding her tightly as if to reassure them both.

They stayed like this for a while, hugging in silence. Breaking the silence, Carina gently pulled back to look into Maya's eyes. "What if we tell people about the baby?" she suggested softly. "We've kept it a secret because we wanted to wait until we were further along, but maybe sharing the news could help?"

Maya raised an eyebrow, considering the idea. "I don't know, Carina. What if something goes wrong, like last time? I don't want to have to explain that to everyone again," she admitted, a flicker of fear crossing her face as she recalled the painful experience of the miscarriage Carina had endured last year.

Carina nodded, understanding her wife's hesitation. "I get it," she said softly. "But last time, I was already experiencing complications at this stage of the pregnancy. Everything is going well this time, bambina. I am feeling very hopeful."

Carina continued, "We've been carrying this huge secret for weeks now, and I know that has been hard for you. It might feel good to share our baby with other people."

Maya's heart ached at the thought of what they went through last year, the memories of loss still fresh in her mind. But as she reflected on this second pregnancy, she realized that Carina was right. This time had been different; it had only brought happiness. There hadn't been any complications like last time, and everything had gone perfectly so far.

Carina stepped closer, wrapping her arms around Maya, pulling her into a warm embrace. "I think sharing this with our friends will be good for you, good for us," Carina continued.

Maya sighed, resting her head against Carina's shoulder, absorbing the comfort of her wife and staying in this position for a while, thinking about what Carina had just said. She then pulled back slightly to look into Carina's eyes. "Okay, let's do it," she said, her voice gaining confidence. "Let's tell our friends."

A radiant smile spread across Carina's face, her excitement infectious. "Really? You mean it?" she asked, her eyes sparkling.

"Yeah," Maya replied, a smile creeping onto her face as well. "I think sharing this will help me. It has been so hard to keep it a secret from the team. How would we do it?" Maya asked.

Carina smiled. "How about a lunch with nineteen? We could tell them all together. It could be a fun way to celebrate, and it would be a good distraction as we wait for your results. We can create a special memory for us."

After a moment of silence, Maya nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "Alright. But can we keep it casual? I don't want it to feel like a big production," she stated.

"Of course! Just a relaxed lunch with some of our favorite people," Carina agreed, her eyes shining with excitement. "I'll handle the food. I can make some of my Italian dishes."

"Sounds perfect," Maya replied.

They decided to plan a lunch for two days from now, on Sunday. With A-shift not working until Monday evening, Maya thought Sunday would work best for her team.