A Partisan's Fight - COMPLETED!

Chapter Twenty-Six

Staring at the mirror, Mina wrapped her arms around her ever-growing belly. She stared at the swelling. She was still growing. Still supporting something inside of her. Even with that knowledge, she questioned whether the being she supported was alive. They'd been back home for well over a week, yet she still had yet to feel anything that proved there was a life within her.

Closing her eyes, she just stood there. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed. Her breath was being choked out of her. She found herself sliding to her knees; mourning a being that she didn't even know. "I am sorry." She felt the tears slide down her face. No matter how much she hadn't wanted to give birth to someone related to the man responsible for torturing her, she couldn't help the raw feelings of letting this little being down. He or she was the result of something bad, but it was the only good thing — the only light — that was being shined upon her. She wanted to embrace the baby. To hold the being that was inside of her.

"I love... I love you, Kleiner." Little One. The words slipped from her mouth and she meant every single one of them.

"He hears you." She jumped from the observing voice behind her.

"Why are you sneaking up on me?" Mina twisted to look up at Markus. She didn't get up from her knees, just pushed the tears away from visibility.

"I wasn't. I just heard you when I was walking by." He said simply. She watched him walk over to her and kneel down to her level. He stared at her belly curiously. "The baby is listening to you. Keep talking to him. Tell him how much you love him. Do not stop."

Mina's gaze dropped to her belly. She stared at the roundness longer, pondering the man's words.

"I know that you don't think much of me, but believe that whatever I say to you isn't to hurt you in any way. I am sorry for the pain that I have caused you, and I am sorry that your father died at my hands. I just wanted you to know that." He stared at her belly a moment longer before standing and taking his leave.

Swallowing hard, Mina looked up. Her gaze followed him out of the room. She didn't breathe a word. Couldn't make herself struggle for a response to him. He was being kind, but that didn't warrant her to be all right with his actions. It didn't permit her to have to accept his apology and forgive him. She wasn't sure if she could. Ever.