𝗠𝘆 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 ⇉ 𝗝𝗝 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸

𝘣 𝘰 𝘯 𝘬 𝘦 𝘳 𝘴

AS ARIELLA SAT on the cool, tiled floor of the bathroom, her mind raced with a whirlwind of thoughts, but she barely had a moment to dwell on the reality of her pregnancy.

The sudden crash of the bathroom door swung open, and in rushed Sarah and Kiara, their faces etched with concern. The sound of Ari's sobs echoed in the small space, drawing them in like moths to a flame, instinctively reacting to the distress that filled the air.

When they spotted Ariella, curled up on the floor with her knees pulled tightly to her chest, the sight struck them like a lightning bolt.

Without a second thought, they dropped to their knees beside her, their hearts pounding in unison with worry. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken questions, their eyes wide as they searched for answers in Ari's tear-streaked face.

What could possibly be wrong?

The urgency of the moment wrapped around them, amplifying their concern.

"What happened, Ari?" Kiara's voice was gentle as she cups Ariella's face in her hands, trying to wipe away the tears that flowed relentlessly down her cheeks.

But the effort felt futile, as Ari's sobs only deepened, her grief pouring out like an unstoppable tide. Clutching the pregnancy test tightly against her chest, Ariella felt the weight of the world pressing down on her.

"What's going on? Are you okay?" Sarah's voice was soft, soothing, as she ran her fingers through Ari's hair, trying to offer comfort amidst the chaos. "Talk to us, we're here for you and—."

"I'm pregnant." The words spill from Ariella's lips, low yet powerful enough to cut through the tension in the room.

She needed to say it, to release the burden that felt like it was suffocating her. If she kept it bottled up any longer, it would consume her entirely.

"What?" Kiara and Sarah echo in unison, their shock evident.

The reality of Ariella's revelation hung in the air like a heavy fog, engulfing them as they tried to process the magnitude of what they had just heard.

Ariella's silence hung heavy in the air, thick with unspoken fears. Slowly, she opens her trembling hands to reveal the two pregnancy tests, their stark results glaring back at her like a spotlight illuminating her reality.

The moment felt suspended in time as Kiara and Sarah lean in, their eyes widening in disbelief. Ariella, unable to bear the weight of their gazes, buried her head into her knees, the fabric of her jeans absorbing her tears.

She felt a wave of nausea wash over her at just the thought of what they might be thinking, their expressions a puzzle she couldn't bear to solve.

Kiara and Sarah exchange worried glances, a silent conversation passing between them as they tried to decipher the source of Ariella's anguish.

Was it fear?

She already had Cora, a beautiful little girl who brought so much joy.

Was it the timing of the news, the uncertainty of their current situation?

Or perhaps it was the absence of JJ?

Their minds race with questions, each one more daunting than the last. They could only imagine the whirlwind of thoughts spinning through Ariella's head, a tempest of worries that threatened to drown her.

"I-I don't want to think about the negatives," Ariella finally whispers, her voice cracking like fragile glass in the oppressive silence of the bathroom. "I can't. That's all I've been thinking about, and it's all I'm going to keep thinking about. I-I just really need to focus on the good side... and a hug. I really need a hug."