Tatiana's hands trembled as she managed to leave the place quickly. She didn't know how her legs carried her down the hall. The air felt heavy, and her chest tightened as if the walls were closing in on her. She couldn't breathe. Her heart was racing so fast it hurt. Lydia was pregnant. The thought repeated over and over in her head like a hammer. She's pregnant.
She reached a corner and pressed her hand against the wall, gasping softly. Her palms were wet with sweat. Her eyes burned as she tried to hold back tears, but they still came — hot, fast, and helpless. Her heart felt like it had shattered into pieces. She turned sharply, her head lowered, afraid someone might see her like this. The thought of Lydia carrying Ivan's child tore her apart in a way she had never imagined. She walked faster, her steps uneven, almost tripping on her own gown as she hurried away, her lips trembling.
Inside the waiting room, the air was still.
