PLAYING WITH FIRE

Chapter 117: Thanksgiving Part 2

As Maya played with Pru, a pang of discomfort suddenly shot through her lower abdomen. It was an all too familiar sensation, a reminder of the hormonal injections she'd been taking as part of the IVF process.

Maya paused for a moment, her expression faltering ever so slightly as the pain washed over her. She took a deep breath and tried to keep her focus on Pru, not wanting to let her discomfort dampen the little girl's enthusiasm.
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A/N: Still Day 5 of FSH and Day 3 of GnRHa
However, Carina's observant eyes noticed the flicker of discomfort that crossed Maya's face. Her maternal instincts kicked in, and she immediately knew what was happening. Her heart ached for her fiancée, knowing just how difficult this process was.

Carina tried to focus on the conversation around them, but her attention kept drifting to Maya and the pain she knew she was enduring. She longed to comfort her, to take away the discomfort, but she knew that this was a necessary step in their journey.

With the extra guests from the hospital joining the celebration, the beanery was buzzing with activity. The sound of laughter and chatter filled the air, creating an atmosphere of warmth and unity.

Maya tried to put aside the lingering discomfort from her hormonal injections and join in the conversations, but the pain was hard to ignore. She discreetly tried to shift her weight to alleviate the pressure, her smile still intact as she interacted with Carina's friends.

Carina couldn't help but notice Maya's subtle discomfort. Her gaze repeatedly flickered to her fiancée, her heart aching as she saw the subtle signs of discomfort that only she could recognize. She knew Maya was trying to downplay her pain, to keep up appearances and enjoy the celebration, but Carina could see through it.

Carina whispered under her breath to Maya, her voice filled with concern, "How are you holding up, Bambina?"

As Maya was about to respond to Carina, a sudden wave of nausea washed over her. She didn't have time to say anything before her hand flew to her mouth, and she rushed away, heading straight for the bathroom.

Everyone in the room exchanged concerned glances, the atmosphere shifting from festive to worried. Carina was the first one to react, her instincts kicking into high gear as she swiftly followed Maya into the bathroom.

Carina knocked urgently on the bathroom door, her heart racing with concern.

Carina spoke, her voice filled with worry, "Maya, Bambina, it's me. Can you let me in?"

There was a moment of silence, followed by the sound of the lock disengaging. The door slowly opened, and Carina found herself face to face with Maya, who was leaning against the wall, looking pale and nauseous.

Carina stepped into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Her heart ached as she saw the pain etched on Maya's face. She quickly pulled Maya into a tight embrace, holding her close against her chest.

Carina spoke, her voice filled with worry and love, "Talk to me, Bambina. How are you feeling? Is it the injections?"

Maya leaned heavily against Carina, her body trembling slightly. She closed her eyes, taking a deep, shaky breath. The nausea continued to wash over her like waves, nearly drowning her.

Maya spoke, her voice barely above a whisper, "Yeah, it's the injections. The side effects are really hitting me hard this time. I can barely keep anything down."

Carina gently stroked Maya's hair, her heart breaking for her fiancée. She knew how challenging this process was already, and seeing Maya in so much pain was excruciating.

Carina spoke, her voice filled with empathy and care, "Oh, Bambina. I'm so sorry you're going through this. It's not fair that you have to deal with all this on top of everything else."