His name was Nathaniel

110

The bathroom door creaked open.

Nathaniel barely had time to react before Adaliya fell into his arms, clutching onto him tightly.

His heart clenched as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. Her body trembled against his, and he buried his face in her hair, inhaling her familiar scent.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, voice raw with emotion. "I never wanted to hurt you."

Adaliya sniffled against his chest but didn't let go.

He slowly pulled back, cupping her face, wiping away the tears that streamed down her cheeks. "There's something I need to tell you," he said gently.

She looked up at him, waiting.

"Do you remember... our first pregnancy scare?" he asked, his voice laced with hesitation.

Her brows furrowed, but she nodded.

"The night we fought... I left. And I went to my doctor."

Adaliya's breath hitched.

He swallowed hard, eyes flickering with vulnerability. "I asked him how long I have left."

Her stomach twisted. "What do you mean?"

Nathaniel exhaled, his gaze dark, pained. "Remember when you asked me about it later? And I told you I'd tell you someday?"

A deep silence stretched between them.

Adaliya suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe.

Nathaniel's hands trembled as he brushed his thumb against her cheek, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"That day is today," he murmured.

Adaliya's hands clutched at his shirt, her heart pounding. "Nathaniel... what are you saying?"

His jaw tensed. His Adam's apple bobbed as he struggled to get the words out.

"I probably won't live past thirty-five."

The world stopped.

Adaliya's breath caught in her throat.

He let out a shaky sigh, looking away. "Maybe... forty, if I'm lucky."

No.

No, no, no.

Her vision blurred. "Nathaniel, don't—"

"That's why," he cut in, voice strained, "I didn't want us to have children. I didn't want them growing up without me. I didn't want you to—" His voice cracked. "I didn't want you to be alone, Adaliya."

A sob ripped from her throat.

Nathaniel reached for her again, his own eyes wet as he tried to steady her, but she shoved at his chest, shaking her head.

"No—No, you don't get to decide that for me!"

Nathaniel's face twisted with pain. "Adaliya, I don't want you spending your life waiting for the day I'm gone—"

"I don't care!" she cried, gripping his face between her hands.

His breath hitched.

"I don't care how long we have," she choked out. "I don't care if it's five years, ten years, or fifty. I want this. I want you. I want our child. And I don't care about anything else."

Nathaniel looked like he wanted to argue. But she didn't let him.

"We're going to have this baby," she whispered, voice shaking. "Together. And we're going to love them. And we're going to enjoy every minute of it."