CHAPTER 1 :THE MEETING
Landon stayed still even if the alarm kept ringing. Already feeling the weight of the day pressing down on him, he lay there gazing at the ceiling. He sighed thinking of rising, getting dressed, and heading to work; his body felt weary. Leaving the bed seemed pointless since it was too warm and comfy. He rolled over, tugged the blanket tighter, and mumbled he couldn't go to work today.
Landon Douglas had grown up wealthy, the sort of affluence most people only dream about but seldom experience. From the time he woke up, luxury enveloped him. Growing up in a mansion with marble floors that echoed under his footsteps and windows so tall they caught the morning light exactly. Everything around him, from the vehicles in the driveway to the artwork decorating the walls, was sophisticated, perfect, and pricey.
Many times, individuals would claim he had everything. Perhaps he did, but for him it was just natural. Money and convenience never mattered; things showed up before he even asked. He resided with stepbrother, stepfather, and father. The house seemed huge and peaceful most days. His father was normally preoccupied, but his stepmother was always busy with something. Landon and Lucas, his stepbrother, were friendly. They talked a lot, made fun of little things, and spent time together. Lucas was the one Landon felt most at home with among all the people in the house.
Lucas invited him for a pool party last night. Landon had rejected initially but finally consented, particularly given he had no wish to work that day.
He got ready and went to the poolside party, meeting Lucas there. The sun was blazing; the temperature was mild. The music floated around the neighborhood. People swam, laughed, and chatted by the pool. Landon dropped down and enjoyed being around people who were just having fun as the sunlight glittered over the water.
Then he saw something intriguing in the audience. Laughing and splashes filled the pool. He saw a girl attempting to swim away from a man who kept tugging her back in the middle of it. She tried to shove him off and looked furious, but he wouldn't let up. Though nobody else seemed to see it, she was evidently upset. Initially Landon wanted to brush it aside, but something inspired him to act.
He leapt into the pool. The chill hit him hard, but he kept forward. Reaching her, he grabbed her arm and dragged her away, putting himself between the man and her. The man seemed angry, but Landon told him to back off. Finally he did. Landon helped the girl out of the pool. She crawled to the edge, panting, and he followed, giving her a towel. She whispered a trembling "Thank you."
He left after saving her. She stayed motionless beside the pool, peering at the water. Landon approached and inquired about her health. She nodded even if her eyes suggested differently.
"It's getting late," he replied softly. "Would you want me to drop you off at home?"
She stopped, then nodded. He grabbed his keys and they hurried away from the noise. Sitting next him, she remained still thinking about everything. He just wanted to make sure she arrived home without any problems.
The drive was noiseless. While she gazed out the window, Landon concentrated on the road. Still, he could help but look at her. For reasons he didn't understand, he couldn't turn away for long; the streetlights brushed her cheek with gentle light. She observed once, then he immediately faced forward feigning to focus on driving. That moment seemed unique, yet the rest of the journey stayed silent.
She smiled a little, appreciative, as she unfastened her seatbelt at her house. "Thanks for the ride," she whispered. He murmured and observed her head for the door. She looked for her key and the porch light gleamed. He watched till she got inside. Not until then did he turn the engine back on, still considering her as he drove away.
Avery went into dazed from the occurrence. She had arrived with her stepsister, but she had vanished nowhere after the harassment. Thirsty and weary at home, she headed directly toward the kitchen. That was when she heard her stepsister's voice—sharp, low, desperate. She stopped and moved closer, being careful to stay silent.
Almost made her collapse was what she overheard.
Her stepsister had paid someone to harass her.
Avery's face bled. She took a startled step back and the floor groaned.
"Hello? Who's there?" Grace, her stepsister, shouted.
Avery emerged into the light, her voice shaky. "So it was you? You actually did that... you engaged someone to bother me?"
Grace's face went still. Guilt flared in her eyes for a second before she covered it with a chilly grin.
"You went too far," Avery said, her voice rising.
Grace said bitterly, "Too far?" She took away my love."
Avery fixed a gaze on her. "What precisely do you mean?"
Grace retorted, "He loves you! Not me! He's always loved you." "You did nothing, and he fell for you like it was natural."
Avery retorted, "I hate him. I never will."
Grace sobbed, "I don't care. You took him from me!"
Avery slapped her as her rage burst out.
The front door opened right then. Her stepmother and father came in. Avery's father had ceased loving her since her mother had left her and her father when she was small. She had grown accustomed to the chill, but she never knew why.
"How dare you hit my daughter?" he yelled.
Avery attempted to clarify, but he cut her off curtly. "Apologize to your sister."
She dismissed offhand.
Grabbing her arm, he shoved her outside. "Either you apologise or kneel outside till tomorrow."
He then slammed the door.
The ground felt chilly. Dark clouds weighed down the sky.
Rain started pouring after some time. Her entire body became soaked from the drops that hardened. Though she stayed in place, she shivered terribly and waited for her father to open the door. He never did. Her body weakened and her legs started to hurt.
As everything blurred, tears combined with rain. She passed out after the last thing she heard was thunder.
Exhaustion had made her pass out.
CHAPTER 2:AT THE HOSPITAL
Avery gently opened her eyes and saw the brilliant white ceiling. Her body felt stiff and every muscle hurt. She forgot for a minute where she was until the faint aroma of disinfectant hit her. She was at a hospital.
Flashes from the last night returned—the cold stinging her skin, the rain pouring down, the punishment. Her knees pressed into the muddy ground had soaked through her clothing. She said fainted, I should be.
She turned weakly and saw a nurse checking the IV line running into her hand.
The nurse softly said, "You're awake. Last night late you were brought here. You collapsed in the rain and had a fever."
A dull discomfort tore across Avery's body as she attempted to sit up. The nurse gently pressed her shoulder. "Don't move too much. You need rest."
Her gaze went to the window where early-morning sunlight flooded in. Her heart grieved much more than her throat felt terrible. The image of kneeling outside by herself in the storm kept popping up over and over again.
Just as the door opened, she wondered who had brought her to the hospital. Lucy, her closest friend, entered.
Avery questioned softly, "How did you know I was here?"
Lucy stated, "Yesterday I came to your house to invite you to a party. The company I work with is hosting one, and I wanted you to come with me." "But as I walked up the driveway, I froze. You were lying in front of your house, soaked from the rain and unconscious. I knocked on the door for help, but no one answered, so I rushed you here."
While Lucy managed the discharge procedure, Avery changed out of the hospital gown as Lucy had brought fresh clothes. Avery left the hospital with once they finished dressing.
"Let's go shopping for the party!" Lucy cried, suddenly thrilled.
Avery and Lucy headed for the mall. Bright lights, cheery music, and throngs of people entering and leaving stores encircled them. Their journey began at a shop brimming with colorful gowns. Lucy quickly found a sparkling ensemble fitting her vivacious attitude. Before choosing a simple yet classy one that fit her just right, Avery tried on a few clothes.
Laughing together, they went on to the shoe store and argued over which pair looked better. Avery laughed about her shoe love, and Lucy teased her for going too slow. Once their shoes were chosen, they stopped by a tiny accessories store to look for earrings and bracelets that would go with their clothes.
They sat by the fountain in the mall's center and drank smoothies to end their shopping trip. As they discussed the party—the music, the people, and what the evening could hold—the gentle sound of water mixed with the constant hum of voices around them. Their arms were loaded with bags when they departed, and their enthusiasm for the evening had only increased.
.
Landon drove toward his home once she let go of her residence. Lucas was clearly still flirting with some girl at the party; his father and stepmother were not yet home. He went straight to his room and lay on the bed, hoping to sleep, but nothing worked. His thoughts kept circling back to the girl he had saved at the poolside. However many times he switched on the bed, the picture followed him around. The laughing, the loud music, then her panicked voice asking for assistance. He could still see the terror in her eyes, how hard she tried to fight them off, and how tightly she had gripped him when he pulled her to safety.
The room was quiet, but his mind was loud. He kept questioning whether she was still shaken from the event or whether she was alright. Slowly he breathed and gazed at the ceiling, hoping that by morning he would forget the look in her eyes. Deep down he realized he would not. Anything in his heart had changed.
Morning came and he still tossed about.
Landon blinked at the early light seeping through the curtains as the faint buzzing of his alarm went off. Slowly stretching, he pushed himself from bed. He dressed for work and smoothed his shirt before grabbing his keys and phone after washing his face and brushing his teeth.
Outside, the cool morning air felt good on his skin. Waiting in the driveway was his car. Opening it, he slipped into the driver's seat and turned the engine on. The cabin came alive with a mild hum as the dashboard lit up.
He sped along the deserted road as the day progressively cleared. Few early commuters were already moving around while stores were only opening. Every minute the sky brightened.
Following a consistent drive, he pulled into his office. The gate lifted, and he parked in his preferred location. Stepping out, he inhaled slowly and let the morning surround him. The building was starting to buzz inside: lights turning on, coworkers coming, the regular rhythm of the day going back on. He came ready to work.
His assistant was waiting with his schedule and a cup of freshly brewed coffee when he arrived at his office. With a quick smile, he accepted it. He went straight to the meeting room as he had a meeting.
The projector hummed gently under the quiet conversation in the brilliant room. Pens ready, his crew waited for him to start around the big glass table. Landon was at the head of the table, his suit crisp and his expression steady even if his thoughts were not.
"Alright," he started, peering at the slides. "Let's go over the numbers from last quarter."
He lost his concentration for a minute as the first chart flashed on the screen. Her voice stayed in his thoughts. The pool girl from yesterday; he saw her again.
"Sir." Her assistant's tone yanked him back.
He coughed twice. "Yes, carry on." He squared his tie, recovered his posture, and spoke calmly, professional on the outside; however, his mind was far from the meeting.
CHAPTER 3:MEETING AGAIN
That night the business was celebrating its 65th birthday, therefore Landon advised everyone to get ready for the party by closing early. He left the office and started for home. Lucas had already left before Landon arrived and was completely clothed. Lucas had even waited patiently and had prepared some clothes for him. Landon headed straight for the bathroom to shower. A few minutes later he was done and slipped into the clothes Lucas had picked. When he was ready, they set off for the celebration together.
Hall was warm with lights, colleagues chuckled in little groups, and the speakers throbbed with a constant rhythm. Something familiar pulled at the corner of Landon's mind as soon as he entered.
Standing close to the drink table, Avery was having a soft conversation with someone when he recognized her face right away. He momentarily questioned whether his imagination was deceiving him. Then she turned and their eyes met. She was the girl he had saved at the pool from bullying. Both of them experienced the same sudden understanding.
She inched toward him almost warily, unsure whether he would recognize her.
She murmured, her voice soft but sure, "I knew it was you. I've been wishing I would run across you once again."
Landon laughed, shocked by the quick wave of relief he experienced. "I really didn't think we'd meet here of all places."
She laughed softly. "My buddy works at your firm. She invited me to come along. I never would have thought you'd be at a corporate party either."
For what you did, I never truly thanked you properly," she muttered after a small quiet fell between them, the noises of the hall filling the silence as they just stared at each other.
"You are not required; anybody would have stepped in." he answered.
She shook her head. "But you did. And it meant more than you know."
They went to a less busy spot and discussed life, easily changing from one subject to another. The evening seemed like something else—warmer, lighter. Landon was really happy he had come as the music circled them. Seeing her once more felt like the beginning of something neither of them had anticipated.
His assistant approached just as he was totally enthralled in their chat. "Sir, one of our business partners wants to see you," she said.
Though he nodded, he was disappointed. He had to leave. He said politely, "Sorry, I have to step away."
She said, "Not a problem."
"I'm Landon," he murmured and then departed.
She responded, "I'm Avery."
He smiled at her one last time before leaving.As the celebration came to an end, people started leaving, asking for rides, or assembling in small groups. Landon was just about to leave when he spotted her standing by the door, her face tense with fury as she glared at her phone.
He inquired, "Are you alright?"
With a weary sigh, she said, "My ride just got canceled again, and my friend is nowhere to be seen. It's too late for me to be out here alone."
Landon paused before saying, "I'm going the same way. I can drop you off."
She watched him intently as if considering the choice. She eventually nodded after a long time. "Okay... thank you."
She appeared to unwind a little as she buckled her seatbelt once they got to his car. The first few minutes of the ride were silent till she startled and giggled, "Honestly, it's normal. Every party has something go wrong."
Landon chuckled as well. "At least it's not like that pool incident from last time."
Their dialogue veered naturally after that. They discussed music, irritating coworkers, and the DJ's repeated use of the same song twice. It came out weirdly natural, like they had known each other for years instead of just a few hours.
She stared at him with fear in her eyes when they got at her home. She didn't come out right away. "I lost my keys at the party, and my family isn't home. What am I supposed to do?"
He advised contacting the hotel manager, however this might take hours. So he camped out with her outside the house, awaiting word. After then, it started to rain. Landon at last advised her to spend the night at his residence and head home the following day, by which point there would probably be word regarding the key.
She stopped for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. That sounds good."
Together they drove to his house. Though it wasn't what he had intended, fate appeared to have other ideas for that evening. By the time they arrived, his parents were already asleep; his stepbrother was not anywhere to be found.
Inside, the house was as always cozy and familiar. She stepped behind him and collapsed to the couch. She got up again a minute later, paused, then came back to the couch as if the place felt familiar to her already.
They spent hours conversing. The first time the discussion was light and humorous, but then it turned into something more profound. She listened to him intently as if he were the only person in the world, which he thought was quite amazing.
He was intently observing her before he understood it. The little things—her smile, the way she pushed her hair behind her ear when she became nervous—caught his attention. He hardly tried to turn away.
He convinced himself that their fingers touched accidentally or at least that was what he believed. It seemed like something else. She raised her head to gaze at him, and he knew she felt it as well.
Their evening came to a close with them sleeping next to each other. It just happened on its own; it wasn't something we planned. It felt correct, as if it were meant to always turn out this way.
She dozed off beside him later while he remained awake for a while, gently listening to her breathing. He had no idea what the future held, but at that moment nothing else was important. He just knew he wanted the evening to go on endlessly.
CHAPTER 4:SHE COULDN'T CONCENTRATE IN CLASS
Avery woke up to the faint morning light slipping through unfamiliar curtains. For a moment, she lay still, her mind slow to catch up, her body warm against soft sheets. When she finally turned her head, she saw Landon beside her, sleeping peacefully. His breathing was steady, his face relaxed in a way she hadn't seen when they met a few days ago.
The memory hit her in a rush. The conversation. The laughter. The way the night kept pulling them closer until neither of them stepped back. She sat up, her pulse quickening. This wasn't supposed to happen. She didn't know him well. She wasn't ready for whatever this could turn into.
Avery gently slipped out of the bed, careful not to wake him. Her clothes were scattered on the floor, and she quietly gathered them, avoiding the mirror because she didn't want to see her own expression. Regret sat heavy in her chest, not anger, just a sinking sense that she had moved too fast.
Landon shifted slightly, and Avery froze, but he only turned to the other side, still asleep.
She let out a shaky breath, then tiptoed to the door. No note. No explanation. She told herself it was easier this way. She opened the door, stepped into the hallway, and pulled it closed behind her with a soft click.
Outside, the cool morning air hit her skin as she walked away, hoping he would just forget the entire night before she did.
When Avery reached home, her family was still asleep, so she tiptoed into her room. She had to go to school that morning. Avery was still in college in her final year.
Avery was known on campus as the girl who always had her notes organized, her deadlines handled early, and her hand raised with answers no one else thought of. She wasn't loud about it. She just worked harder than most people noticed. Professors trusted her judgment, classmates came to her when they were stuck, and she carried herself with a quiet confidence that came from knowing she earned her place.
She balanced a heavy course load without complaining, often studying late into the night with her headphones in, and her focus locked in place. Her grades were consistently at the top of every class she took. She didn't just memorize; she understood. She connected ideas, asked smart questions, and pushed herself to go deeper.
Even with all that, she stayed humble. She helped others when she had time, never making them feel slow or behind. People admired her, though she never seemed aware of it. Avery wasn't trying to be impressive. She was just driven, disciplined, and determined to build a future she could be proud of.
When she got to her room, she went straight to the washroom to take a bath. After a few minutes, she was done. She put her school uniform and shoes on and headed out, ready for school.
Avery sat at her usual spot in the lecture hall, her notebook open but largely ignored. The professor's voice droned on about economic theories, but the words barely reached her. Her mind kept replaying last night—the way Landon had looked at her, the warmth of his touch, and the quiet intensity of the moments they shared.
She tried to force herself to focus, jotting down a few key points mechanically, but each time she looked at the equations and diagrams, her thoughts slipped back to him. A faint smile tugged at her lips despite herself, and then guilt washed over her for leaving without a word. She couldn't concentrate, couldn't bring her brilliant mind fully to her studies, and the irony wasn't lost on her. Avery, the student who always excelled, was utterly distracted by something—or someone—she barely knew.
Her pen hovered over the page as she realized she was counting the minutes until class would end, hoping somehow to escape her swirling thoughts.Thirty minutes later, the class ended. She packed her books and let the class.
On the other end Landon stirred awake to the soft morning light filtering through the blinds. His eyes slowly adjusted, and then he noticed—Avery was gone. The bed beside him was empty, the sheets still warm from the night before, but the girl who had made it feel alive had vanished without a word.
For a moment, he lay there, stunned. He had thought last night was something mutual, something that had connected them in a way, neither had expected. And now—silence. No note, no message, just the faint scent of her lingering in the room.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed, running a hand through his hair. A mix of confusion and frustration settled in his chest. She just left? he thought, replaying every moment from last night, trying to make sense of her sudden disappearance.
Landon stood and walked over to the window, staring out at the city below. His mind kept drifting to her—the way she laughed, the way her eyes had met his.
And so he stood there, quiet, trying to piece together the memory of her and the emptiness she left behind.
Landon's phone started ringing so he went to answer it. It was his assistant .it was late, and he was still not at work. The shareholders were having a meeting and needed him. His assistant called to inform him. Landon headed to the bathroom, took a bath, got dressed, and headed out to work.
As he got to work, the meeting room was ready with everyone sitting waiting for him. So he started the meeting immediately. The meeting lasted for about an hour before finally ending. After the meeting ended, he headed to his office and called for the assistant. Landon ordered her to help look for Avery's number. Even though he knew her house, he didn't want to just go to her house without her permission.
In less than an hour, the assistant at gotten the number. He took the number and dialed it. It rang for some time before somebody picked up. Hello, who is this? Avery's voice came through. It's me, Landon, "he replied softly. Upon hearing it was Landon, she ended the call. Landon recalled so many things, but she didn't answer. Landon grew furious and threw the phone away. Throughout the rest of the day, Landon couldn't focus. He was so angry at Avery for ignoring his calls.
CHAPTER 5:LANDON GOES TO AVERY'S HOUSE
Landon couldn't shake the silence from Avery. After the night they spent together, he expected at least one message, even a short one. The longer he waited, the heavier it felt. By the afternoon, he made a decision and drove to her house.
He knocked twice. No answer. He could hear movement inside, so he called her name softly. "Avery, can we talk?"
The door opened a few seconds later. Avery stood there with a serious look on her face, arms crossed tightly.
"Why are you here?" she asked. Her tone was sharp, not cold, but definitely upset.
"You didn't respond," Landon said. "I just wanted to know if you're okay."
"That doesn't mean you should show up at my door," she snapped. "You can't do that. You can't just come here without asking."
Landon felt the hit of her words, but he kept his voice calm. "I wasn't trying to bother you. I just thought maybe something happened."
"Nothing happened," she said. "I just needed space. You showing up like this makes it worse."
He swallowed, trying to process her anger. He hadn't expected it to be this strong. "I'm sorry, it just happened. You felt it too right.
Avery looked away, frustrated. "You should have waited. You should have trusted that I'd talk when I was ready."
Landon nodded slowly. "Alright. I'll give you that space."
He stepped back from the door. Avery didn't slam it, but she closed it firmly, leaving him alone on the doorstep. The message was clear, and it stayed with him as he walked back to his car.
Avery stayed behind the door for a moment, her hand still on the handle. Her chest felt tight, not just from anger but from panic she didn't want to admit. When she finally stepped away, she let out a shaky breath and walked into the living room.
She dropped onto the couch and covered her face with her hands. "Why did he come here?" she whispered to herself. The frustration was real, though part of it came from her own confusion, not just his visit.
She pulled her hands away and stared at the ceiling. The night they spent together kept replaying in her mind. It made her feel exposed, like she had let him see too much too fast. Showing up at her house only pushed the feelings closer to the surface, and she wasn't ready to deal with them.
Her phone buzzed on the table beside her. She ignored it. She needed a few minutes to breathe.
Avery stood up and walked to the kitchen. She poured herself a glass of water, holding the cup with both hands to steady herself. Her thoughts were tangled. She wasn't angry because she hated him. She was angry because his sudden visit made everything feel complicated again.
She leaned against the counter and closed her eyes. "I need time," she said quietly. Saying it out loud helped. She needed space to think, to understand what she wanted, not what she felt in the moment.
After a while, she walked back to the couch, picked up her phone, and set it face down. No calls. No messages. Not yet.
She curled up against the armrest and let herself sit in the silence, trying to calm the storm in her chest.Landon drove without thinking, the city lights blurring past him. His chest felt tight, the sting of Avery's anger still fresh. He stopped at a bar. When he reached the bar, he pushed through the door and headed straight for the counter. He didn't bother with small talk. He ordered a drink, then another, hoping the burn in his throat would drown the heaviness sitting in his chest.
He kept replaying the moment she drove him away, her voice sharp with frustration, her eyes cold. Each memory hit harder than the last. Landon leaned forward on the wooden counter, fingers wrapped around his glass, trying to drink the ache out of his system. The bar noise faded in and out, but his thoughts stayed locked on Avery, and the mess between them.
A girl walked up to Landon where he sat hunched over his drink. Through the haze, her height and long hair made his heart jump for a second. He lifted his head, thinking Avery had followed him. Relief mixed with hope flickered across his face.
"Landon…? Are you okay?" the girl asked softly.
The moment her voice reached him, the illusion broke. It wasn't Avery. His expression hardened. He pulled his hand away from her lightly and sat back.
"I'm fine," he said, his tone low and rough. "I thought you were someone else."
The girl tried to smile. "You look like you shouldn't be drinking alone."
"I said I'm fine," he snapped, sharper this time. The girl blinked, taken aback. The frustration he had been holding spilled over to the wrong person. He rubbed his forehead and looked away, jaw tight, drowning again in the mix of anger and regret Avery had left inside him.
He was so drunk and wasted so the bartender took his phone to look through and call someone. The bartender ended up calling Lucas.Lucas rushed over immediately and took Landon home .
CHAPTER 6:THE PREGNANCY
Avery was unable to sleep. Not even for one minute.
Hours seemed to last forever the whole evening as she tossed and turned, caught up in her sheets and her ideas. She saw Landon's face whenever she closed her eyes. The tenderness in his face when he slept next to her. How his hands remained on her skin. Before dawn, she slid out of his room leaving just quiet.
Trying to suffocate the memory, she gripped her pillow tightly, but it persisted in her mind. What was she thinking? Why had she let herself sink into anything she did not know? Always someone who planned three steps ahead, she had always exercised caution. But she had not given any thought that evening with Landon.
Lying wide awake in the dark now, she saw her impulsivity gripping her breast.
Avery was tired by the time the first light crept through her curtains; her eyes burned with unshed tears and insomnia. But she had lessons, therefore it was a fresh day. Her schedule was not stopped only because her life now felt off-balance.
She hauled herself off the bed, disregarding the burden weighing down her. She showered, wishing the warm water would remove the anxiety spinning in her stomach, but the feeling stayed. Though nothing inside her felt normal at all, she packed her books, brushed her hair, and left the house in her uniform as everything was normal.
---
Avery understood something was off by the conclusion of her first course.
She was sitting in her typical seat, pen in hand, but the words on the board seemed to be fuzzy at the sides. Her head pounded. Her stomach rolled uneasily; the dull pain she had been neglecting in her lower back became more constant. She tried to breathe deeply and to persuade herself it was just weariness from the sleepless night.
But she grasped her desk edge as the dizziness engulfing her grew.
Her friend whispered beside her, "You okay?" "You look really pale."
Avery gave a little grin and shook dismissively. "I'm good; just weary."
Still, she wasn't good. not at all.
Though none of them made sense, she continually scribbling notes automatically. The speaker's voice vanished into ambient noise, expanding and diminishing like someone underwater. She blinked firmly, yet her sight still swirled.
Avery exhaled a breath she had not known she had been holding as the lesson finally finished. She stood up slowly, shutting her notebook, afraid the room may tilt once more. The hallways felt too bright, the conversation too loud, her own breathing too fast.
She could not pretend any longer when the lunch break arrived.
Slipping away from the throng, she began toward the school clinic with heavy and jerky feet. Every movement tightened her chest. She just knew she had questions; she did not know what she hoped the nurse would inform her.
Inside the clinic, the nurse gave her a quick look and slightly frowned.
"You don't appear well. What's going on, dear?"
Avery paused. She felt her voice caught in her throat. "I…I've been lightheaded. And…ill."
"Any chance you might be pregnant?" the nurse said gently, as though inquire about a migraine.
Avery felt her heart sinking. Though she said nothing, the quiet spoke volume.
The nurse nodded and offered her a little plastic cup. "Let's run a test to make sure. Take your time."
Avery's hands quaked accepting it. Her fingers were chilly. Her stomach turned harder from dread this time, not from sickness. She walked slowly toward the restroom, denial yelling inside her.
This cannot be true.
It's still early.
Only one evening it was.
No… no… not at all.
She attempted to control her breathing, but her hands trembled too much. She came back out and the nurse collected the test from her with a comforting smile.
The four minutes of waiting expanded like four hours.
Sitting on the bed, Avery dug her fingertips into her palms, her knees drawn near. Every conceivable feeling bound within her—fear, regret, bewilderment, terror. Unable to breathe, she fixed her gaze on the curtains in front of her and couldn't think. She already knew what she was scared of. She just wasn't ready to verify it.
The nurse didn't have to remark anything when she eventually got back. In her gentle eyes, Avery discovered the truth.
The examination was good.
The words wrapped themselves about Avery like chilly chains; they didn't have to be said. She coughed abruptly. As her eyesight faded, the world looked to contract and the air became far too thin.
Expecting
She was carrying a pregnancy.
Her throat constricted so severely she became mute. The weight of it fell on her all at once: the night she spent with Landon, the morning she bolted out, the weeks she buried her uncertainty and pretended everything was fine.
There was no perfection.
Speaking in soft tones, the nurse sat beside her. Avery hardly heard. She discussed follow-up examinations, appointments, support choices. But everything sounded far apart, muffled by the raging in her ears. Avery's heart beat sounded too strong, too heavy.
Avery walked out of the clinic slowly, each step unsteady, as the nurse finally let her go. Though to her everything seemed strangely subdued, as if she were watching from underwater, the outside world seemed the same: some students giggling, some eating, some bickering, music drifting from a group near the courtyard.
Her breath trembling, she naturally pushed her hand against her stomach then jerkily pulled it away. She had no idea what she should feel. She lacked thinking skills.
Her eyes burning, she walked into an unused corridor and rested against the wall. She wasn't someone who sobbed in public. She wasn't one of those that shattered quickly. Right now, though, she felt the ground beneath her too quickly shifting.
She battled the tears back as firmly as she could, but the terror found up her neck nevertheless.
She gulped it down and walked until she discovered a quiet area beyond one of the lecture buildings. There she rested on a bench, linked her hands, and tried to breathe.
Denial came first for her.
She continued murmuring to herself. The test could have been mistaken. The nurse might have switched something around. Perhaps it's just stress. Perhaps...perhap... maybe...
She assured herself she would study for another exam. Two. Or ten.
Still, she knew deep down.
The indications were there. She had experienced them. She had simply been too afraid to acknowledge it.
After came terror—sharp, suffocating dread.
Dread of informing her family. Concern about what her life would be like. Fear of the rapid pace of change without her authorization. Her dread of what lies forward.
And subsequently… Landon.
Her chest tightened only at his name. More than ever, the memory of leaving his flat without saying anything struck hard. She was uncertain about his response. She wasn't sure he still considered her.
Would he be surprised, angry? Would he disappear or would he care?
She was unsure. What most terrified her was the uncertainty.
Beneath all the whirling fear, however, something little and silent gripped—a weak thread of determination.
Avery had always faced difficulties straight on. Always pushed through, always fought for her future. Indeed, this was horrible. Definitely life-altering. She wasn't destitute, though. She wasn't frail.
She drew a deep breath, straightened her spine, and brushed away tears with the back of her hand.
Her world had changed, but she would not let it shatter her.
Breath by breath, she would solve what followed.
Because she did not have any option.
Because Avery Hart was she.
She had never backed down before either.