Floras Big Secret

Chapter 6: Torn Between Two Worlds

---The days following Flora's difficult conversation with her parents felt like an endless whirlwind of emotions. Despite the support of her friends and Helia, the weight of their disapproval lingered heavily in her heart. She tried to focus on her classes at Alfea, to continue her studies and finish her last year with some semblance of normalcy. But every time she saw a familiar face or heard the whispers of her classmates, she felt the sharp sting of judgment, both from her parents and from herself.The hardest part was knowing that the future she had once dreamed of was now so uncertain. She had always seen herself as a healer—someone who could mend the broken parts of the world and bring life back to where it had faded. But how could she continue on that path now, with so much responsibility pressing down on her shoulders? How could she still be the fairy who saved the planet when she was now facing a future as a mother?Helia had been her rock through it all, supporting her every step of the way. But even he couldn't shield her from the weight of the reality she faced. Their relationship, once so free and filled with promise, was now weighed down by the knowledge that their lives would never be the same.---**That Afternoon...**Flora stood in front of the mirror, her hands lightly resting on her stomach. The pregnancy wasn't yet visible to others, but she could feel it—this new, undeniable part of her life that she wasn't sure how to integrate into the world she had known. She hadn't yet told anyone else about the pregnancy—her friends knew, but the rest of the school remained in the dark. It wasn't that she was ashamed, but she didn't know how to explain it to anyone who hadn't been there with her, who hadn't seen the look of terror in her eyes when the test had come back positive.Her reflection stared back at her, a young woman filled with uncertainty. "Hey, Flora," a voice called from behind her.Flora turned, her heart sinking when she saw Helia standing in the doorway. He looked concerned, his usual calm expression replaced with one of visible worry. "Can we talk?" he asked gently, stepping into the room.Flora nodded, her chest tightening as she forced a smile. "Of course, Helia. What's on your mind?"Helia crossed the room, his eyes scanning her face, his brows furrowed. "You've been distant lately. And I can tell that you're not okay. I've been trying to give you space, but I can't help but feel like something's wrong."Flora let out a sigh, her eyes flickering to the floor. "I don't know, Helia. I feel like I'm losing everything. I don't know who I am anymore. I'm not just Flora, the fairy who heals nature. I'm Flora, the girl who's pregnant and unsure of how to move forward. I don't know how to balance everything."Helia reached out to take her hand, his touch warm and comforting. "You don't have to balance everything right away. We'll take it slow. I'm here for you. Whatever you need, I'm here."Flora met his gaze, her heart swelling with both love and fear. "I don't know if I can do this, Helia. I feel like I'm losing myself. The fairy I used to be... the one who healed, who helped everyone... I don't know if I can be that person anymore."Helia's expression softened, and he gently cupped her face in his hands. "Flora, you *are* that person. Nothing has changed. You'll always be the one who heals the world. But now, you're also going to be someone's mother. And that's not something to be afraid of. It's just another part of who you are. You don't have to give up your dreams. We'll find a way to make it work. Together."Flora closed her eyes, a tear slipping down her cheek. "But what if I can't do both? What if I fail?"Helia kissed her forehead softly, his voice unwavering. "You won't fail. I know you. And I'll be right beside you, every step of the way. You don't have to carry this alone."For a moment, Flora let herself be comforted by his words, but a sense of unease still lingered. She wasn't sure if she could truly find a way to have it all—the life she had planned, the baby growing inside her, and the future she had always dreamed of. The reality of it all was so overwhelming, and as much as Helia tried to reassure her, Flora couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change in a way she couldn't control.---**The Following Day...**The day was supposed to be ordinary—another class, another routine day at Alfea. But the moment Flora walked into the cafeteria with Helia, she knew things weren't going to be simple.Whispers. Glances. Conversations that abruptly stopped when she entered the room. It was as if the air in the room had shifted, and Flora could feel it. She and Helia sat down at their usual table, but something felt different—everyone was looking at them, talking in hushed voices. Flora could almost hear the questions they weren't asking aloud."Did you hear?" Layla's voice cut through the silence as she joined them at the table, her face troubled. "There's talk all around Alfea about you, Flora. About... the pregnancy."Flora froze, her heart racing. She hadn't expected the news to spread this quickly. She glanced at Helia, who was sitting next to her, his jaw clenched. They had kept the pregnancy a secret, only telling their closest friends. But someone must have overheard or seen something that had triggered the rumors.Stella, ever the dramatic one, leaned forward, her eyes wide. "Flora, you know you can't keep something like this quiet for long. Someone must have seen something. And now everyone's talking."Flora's face flushed. The last thing she wanted was for her personal life to become a subject of gossip. The harsh judgment from her parents still stung, but this? This felt like a betrayal. How had this information gotten out, and why was everyone looking at her as though she were some kind of scandal?A voice interrupted the tension. "Is it true?"Flora turned to see the figure of an older student, one she didn't recognize. He was tall, with a cocky smirk on his face as he leaned against the table. His friends stood nearby, clearly waiting for her response. His presence alone made Flora uneasy—there was something in his eyes that made her feel exposed, vulnerable."Is what true?" Flora asked cautiously, trying to keep her voice steady.He grinned, his tone mocking. "The rumor. About you being pregnant."Flora felt her pulse quicken. She could feel the eyes of everyone in the cafeteria on her, the weight of their expectations, their judgment pressing in from all sides. She glanced at Helia, who was now standing next to her, a protective presence in the midst of the growing tension."It's true," Helia said, his voice firm. "And we're not ashamed of it. Flora's going to be a great mother, and whatever you think of her, it's none of your business."But the student laughed, his eyes scanning the room as if waiting for an audience. "Really? A fairy, a *hero* of nature, getting pregnant so young? How irresponsible. What's next? Are you going to ruin your future for this?"Flora's heart sank. The words cut deeper than she wanted to admit. She had always known there would be people who would judge her, but hearing it out loud, hearing someone mock her so openly, made her feel like she was being torn apart."Shut up," Helia growled, his hand gripping Flora's firmly. "This isn't a joke. You don't know her, you don't know us. So keep your opinions to yourself."But the damage had already been done. Whispers rippled through the cafeteria like wildfire. The student turned and walked away, leaving behind a trail of murmurs and judgment.Flora's stomach twisted with a mix of shame and anger. She felt small, exposed. The life she had known, the safe bubble of Alfea, suddenly felt like a world full of eyes watching, waiting for her to fail.Flora pushed her food away, no longer hungry. She didn't want to be here, in the spotlight, under the weight of everyone's expectations. She stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. "I need to be alone," she said quietly to Helia.He didn't protest, though his eyes were filled with worry. "Flora, wait..."But Flora didn't wait. She left the cafeteria, the eyes of her classmates still boring into her back as she walked away.---