ᴛᴀʀᴀᴊɪ ʜᴇɴꜱᴏɴ
ꜱᴇᴘᴛᴇᴍʙᴇʀ 26, 2020the building smelled like butter and garlic. it had only been open under my name for a few days, but the energy already felt different. nobody had to pay. nobody was turned away. we made sure everyone was fed and taken care of. i used to be one of them so i know how they feel receiving these things. it's a blessing that im even able to do this for them.
the new sign out front read 'The Root' a name fantasia came up with. she said it was about more than food. it was about giving people something to grow from.
laila was sitting at a corner table, legs swinging, sipping apple juice through two straws like it was a milkshake. tab sat beside her, grinning at something she drew, while tasia stood near the kitchen entrance watching the flow of folks moving in and out with smiles and takeout bags.
i hadn't stopped smiling since we walked in.
"this is really yours" fantasia whispered as she walked towards me. she leaned into me with a smile, but her hand drifter to her stomach again. second time since we got here.
"you good?" i asked, keeping my tone light.
she blinked slow. "yeah... just queasy. maybe the smells are doing too much."
i nodded and reached to rub her lower back. "you want water?"
"mmhmm."
i headed off toward the side station, glancing back at her once but something had shifted. her body had gone rigid. her jaw clenched. one hand gripped the chair beside her like she was trying to ground herself.
then she turned fast and ran straight through the employee hallway and into the staff bathroom. i set the water down and moved. i rushed after her, heart pounding out my chest.
i pushed open the bathroom door. she was on the floor, bent over the toilet with both hands gripping the toilet.
"hey, hey" i said softly, kneeling beside her. "breathe, baby. just breathe."
she gagged again. i flushed the toilet and grabbed a handful of paper towels. i soaked them under cold water and pressed it to the back of her neck. her hands were trembling.
i'd never seen her like this. not even when laila was sick. not even when her voice cracked during the fight with tab. this was... different.
her body was betraying her and we didn't know why.
she looked up at me confused. "what's wrong with me?"
before i could answer, a quiet knock came upon the door.
"it's me" tab said softly from the other side. "can i come in?"
i cracked the door. she stepped in shut the door behind her. her eyes were locked on tasia. she crouched down beside me.
"how long's she been feeling like this?"
"few days" i said, still holding the towel to fantasia's neck. "but this is the worst it's hit."
"yo stomach been cramping? breasts feel sore? things smell off?"
fantasia blinked, like every word was hitting a switch she didn't know she had. she nodded. slow.
"you been extra tired? hot one minute, cold the next? mood swings?"
another nod. slower.
"tasia... i think you might be pregnant."
the room went silent. fantasia stared at her, blinking like she didn't understand the language. then she looked at me and i knew. i knew it before she said a word. i knew it from the heat in my chest to the sting behind my eyes.
my woman. the same woman who gave me everything two weeks ago was possibly carrying something we made.

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ʜᴇʀ ᴀꜱꜱɪꜱᴛᴀɴᴛ | ᴛᴀʀᴀꜱɪᴀ
Fanfictionread to find out ♡. first chapter inspired by @brokebey 🎀