Nina's POV
The doctor's office felt cold, and the smell of medicine made my head spin. Dr. Kim sighed as he looked at me. He shook his head slowly.
"Nina, your blood pressure is very high," he said, his voice sounding worried. "I have told you before: you must stop thinking so much. You are putting yourself and the baby in danger. If you keep stressing like this, your body will break."
I looked at the floor, feeling tears sting my eyes. How could I stop thinking? My stomach was heavy, my pockets were empty, and the man I loved most felt like a ghost.
"I'm trying, Doctor," I whispered.
"Try harder," he said. He handed me a small white bottle of pills. "Take your medication every single day. No excuses. If your blood pressure doesn't come down, I will have to keep you in the hospital, and we both know you can't afford that."
I bit my lip. Mentioning money made my heart race even faster. I reached into my small bag and pulled out a few crumpled notes. It wasn't even half of what I owed for the check-up.
"Doctor... please," I pleaded, my voice trembling. "Can I pay the rest for the antenatal care on my next visit? I promise I will have it then."
The doctor looked at the small pile of money and then at my swollen belly. He wasn't happy. He looked at his files and saw all the times I had promised to pay and failed. But then, he looked at my face. He saw the tired look in my eyes and the way my hands were shaking. He sighed and waved his hand.
"Just go, Nina," he said softly. "Go home and rest. But don't miss the next payment. The hospital is a business, not a charity."
"Thank you," I sobbed. I stood up slowly, my back aching. I gripped my bag and walked out of the office, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders.
I stepped out into the hot sun and waved down a taxi. As I sat in the back seat, the hum of the engine felt like a sad song. I stared out the window, but I wasn't seeing the trees or the people walking by. I was seeing Brian's face. I was remembering the way he used to hold me.
Does he still remember me? I wondered. Does he know that I am struggling to breathe?
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't realize we had reached my street. The driver cleared his throat loudly.
"We are here, Madam," he said, looking at me through the mirror.
I jumped, startled by his voice. I reached into my bag and pulled out the last of my change. I counted it twice, but no matter how many times I counted the money, it wasn't enough. I was short by a few coins.
"I... I'm sorry," I said, handing him the money. "This is all I have. Please, I'm just a little short."
The driver looked at the money and then at my face. He looked ready to shout, prepared to tell me to get back in the car until I found the rest. But then he looked at my large stomach. He saw how hard it was for me even to move.
"Just go," he muttered, shaking his head. "Next time, don't enter a car if you can't pay. Go on."
I climbed out of the taxi, feeling the shame burn my cheeks. I walked toward the old, broken house where I lived. Every step felt like a mile. I climbed the stairs, holding the railing tightly so I wouldn't slip and fall.
Finally, I pushed open the door to my room. It was silent and cold. I dropped my bag on the floor and walked straight to the mirror.
I looked at myself. My hair was messy, my skin was pale, and my eyes were filled with tears. I looked like a woman who had lost everything. I touched the cold glass of the mirror, and the tears finally began to fall.
I placed my hand on my stomach, feeling the heavy weight of my baby. Only one month left until the delivery, yet I was alone.
It had been six months since I last heard Brian's voice. Six months since he kissed my forehead and promised he would build a world for us. When he left, I was only two months pregnant. Now, my belly was huge, but my heart felt empty.
"Please, Brian... just come back to me," I whispered to the empty room.
I looked around the small, cold space. There was nothing left but the bed we used to share. To help Brian travel abroad, I had sacrificed everything. We sold the TV, the chairs, my jewelry, everything. I had given him every penny I had because I believed in him. I believed his success is our success.
But silence is a loud thing. With no calls and no letters for months, I spent every night wondering: Is he okay? Is he eating? Does he still remember the girl he left in this space with an unborn child?
I was so lost in these dark thoughts that I didn't hear my phone ringing on the floor.
"Knock..Knock. Knock."
The sound jolted me back to reality. I stared at the door as I stood up slowly, holding my back, and walked to the door. When I opened it, a deliveryman was standing there, holding a small yellow envelope.
"Are you Nina?" he asked.
"Yes," I said. My voice was very small.
"Mail for you. Sign here."
My hands shook so much I could barely hold the pen. As soon as I touched that envelope, I felt a spark. I knew that handwriting. It was Brian's.
I closed the door and leaned against it. I didn't even walk back to the bed. I sank to the floor, my big belly resting on my legs, and I hugged that letter to my heart. I cried. I cried for the six months of silence. I cried because he hadn't forgotten me.
I took a deep breath and carefully tore open the yellow envelope. My fingers were shaking so much that I almost dropped it.....