It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Thalia stepped into the hospital, her heart beating with a mix of worry and anticipation. She had come to check on Jill, but the reception desk was quiet, and a man passed by, glancing at her with a familiar smile.
"She's off today," he said.
Thalia's eyes lit up. "Oh… it's good to see you."
"Thalia!" the man said, stepping closer. They hugged briefly. "Come on, let's go into my office and chat."
Inside the office, the familiar scent of paperwork and coffee surrounded them. Leo gestured for her to sit, a small smile on his face.
"How have you been?" he asked gently.
"I've been good," Thalia replied, her hands folded in her lap. "It's so good to see you again. Long time."
Leo nodded, reaching into his desk drawer. "There's something I need to tell you. I'm sorry for hiding this before." He handed her an envelope.
Thalia froze. Her fingers trembled as she opened it. Inside, a single piece of paper made her gasp.
Pregnancy. I was 2 weeks pregnant?
Leo's voice filled in the rest. "You were in your early stages of pregnancy. We tried… but you lost it. Jill didn't want me to tell you considering your situation, but I had to."
Thalia felt a pang deep in her chest. She swallowed, trying to steady her voice. "Thank you," she whispered, rising to leave.
Leo stood, concern written across his face. "Ms. Thalia, please… let me take you out for lunch. I feel bad. Please don't refuse me."
After a short pause, Thalia nodded. "Alright. Let's go."
They walked to a nearby restaurant, quiet at first, but soon Leo began cracking jokes — silly puns, playful exaggerations, and stories from their shared past. Thalia couldn't help but laugh.
"You're still funny as always," she said between chuckles, a warmth spreading in her chest. "I still wonder… why did you and Jill break up? You both look lovely though."
"It's past now," Leo said with a shrug, smiling. "Thank you for meeting me today."
Thalia nodded. "I agree. I'll meet Jill at the park later."
At the park, the afternoon sun was gentle, shadows long across the soft grass. Thalia spotted someone sitting on a bench, hood pulled up, face cap low. She approached cautiously.
"Jill?" she asked softly.
"Good to see you, Thalia," Jill replied, standing and hugging her tightly. They settled on the bench, the tension slowly melting away.
"Please… could you explain this?" Thalia asked
Jill looked down, remorse flickering in her eyes. "I'm sorry, cuz. I thought it was best for you, so you wouldn't feel hurt."
Thalia's voice sharpened slightly, tinged with frustration. "It's not yours to decide! Jill Snapped Did you even think about how you are now? If you had that baby, how would you have coped? You sold everything to pay Alex's debts. There were times you went hungry, working two or three jobs a day. Could you have raised the child on your own? Think about these things before sulking. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise."
Thalia nodded, humbled. "Maybe… you're right. Things happen for a reason."
Jill softened. "Please don't be mad at me. Come on, give me a big hug."
They embraced tightly, the weight of old pain lifting slightly.
Thalia smiled, complimenting her cousin. "I love your boyish appearance and your hoarse, sexy voice. You've always had a charm."
Jill laughed softly. "Thank you. I love your dressing you look even better than before."
Thalia reached for her hand. "Come on… let's leave the pain behind and do something fun today."