Episode 4

Weeks had passed since that tumultuous encounter with the stranger whose name I didn't even know. I thanked God for not running into him again. Life went on, but a persistent uneasiness settled over me. I began to notice changes in my body that I couldn't ignore: a late period, an overwhelming fatigue, and mild morning sickness. Even my breasts were fuller.

One morning, as I was getting ready for work, I felt a wave of nausea stronger than usual. Panic struck me like lightning.

"No... It can't be." I murmured to myself, holding onto the sink for balance.

I decided it was time to face the truth. I bought a pregnancy test on my way to work and, during a break, went to the bathroom to use it. Those minutes of waiting seemed like an eternity, each second increasing my fear and anxiety.

When I finally looked at the test, my heart almost stopped. Two pink lines. Positive.

I sat down on the toilet lid, trying to process the avalanche of emotions. Fear, panic, and, unexpectedly, a pang of joy. My mind raced, trying to understand what this meant for me and how to deal with the situation.

Even with all these symptoms, I continued working. Hanna, a coworker, noticed how pale I had been these days.

"Are you okay? You seem so tired and pale lately." She asked, the concern evident on her face.

"Oh, yes. I'm just a little stressed, nothing major." I made something up to avoid going into details. "I think it's just a cold."

She didn't seem totally convinced, but decided not to press further. The truth was that I was still trying to deal with the news. I spent my days on autopilot, trying to keep my composure and continue my work, while my mind was in turmoil.

Each day was a struggle to hide my condition. Between morning sickness and overwhelming tiredness, maintaining the appearance of normalcy was becoming increasingly difficult. Still, I knew I needed time to think about what to do, how to deal with the pregnancy.

My shift started with cleaning the rooms on the third floor. Carrying the heavy cleaning cart, I felt exhaustion piling up faster than usual. Every movement seemed to require a Herculean effort. The smell of cleaning products, which I normally handled well, now made me even more nauseous.

Still, I continued my work. I cleaned the bathrooms, changed the towels, vacuumed the carpets. Each task seemed endless, and time dragged on.

In the middle of the morning, a wave of nausea caught me by surprise. I ran to the nearest bathroom, trying not to draw attention.

After throwing up, I leaned against the sink, trying to catch my breath. The weakness in my legs was evident, and the fear of passing out in the middle of the hallway made me even more nervous. I washed my face with cold water, trying to pull myself together. I went back to work, but each room seemed more difficult than the last. The exhaustion was getting to me, and I needed to take frequent breaks to regain my strength. I felt a constant pressure in my head, and the dizziness came and went.

At lunchtime, I could barely eat. The smell of the food made my stomach churn, and I barely touched my plate. Hanna, sitting next to me, watched me with growing concern.

"You need to see a doctor. You can't go on like this." She insisted.

"I will. I just need to get through this week." I lied, knowing I was delaying the inevitable.

The afternoon passed in a blur of tasks and exertion. With each room cleaned, I felt my body weaker. When my shift finally ended, I felt a mixture of relief and dread for the next day to come. I gathered my things and went home, longing for a bed where I could rest.

Arriving home, I could barely get my shoes off before collapsing on the couch. The pregnancy was becoming an increasingly heavy burden, and I knew I couldn't keep pretending for much longer.

I woke up on the couch hours later, my body still heavy and my mind worried. The news of the pregnancy was consuming me, and I knew I needed to make a decision. But fear and uncertainty paralyzed me.

The next morning, the nausea returned in full force. It was getting harder and harder to hide my condition, especially from Hanna. Upon arriving at work, she pulled me aside, her expression serious.

"You can't go on like this. I'm worried about you." Her voice was firm, but full of genuine concern. "Are you hiding something from me? Don't you trust me anymore?"

I sighed, realizing I couldn't keep it a secret much longer. I needed to confide in someone, and Hanna had always been a good friend.

"Hanna, I need to tell you something..." I began, feeling a lump forming in my throat. "I'm pregnant."

Her eyes widened in surprise, but quickly softened in understanding.

"My God... Why didn't you tell me before?" She pulled me into a comforting hug. "We need to take care of you."

"I was afraid... I didn't know how to deal with it." My voice trembled, and tears began to stream down my face.

Hanna squeezed me tighter, offering the comfort I so desperately needed.

"It's going to be okay. We'll get through this together." She said.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of support and confidences. Hanna helped me with the heavier tasks, insisting I get more rest. For the first time in weeks, I felt a bit of relief.

But the relief was short-lived. At the end of the shift, the hotel manager called me in for a talk.

"I heard you haven't been feeling well." He began, his voice full of professional concern. "If you need some time off, we can arrange a medical leave."

I felt the panic rise again. I needed the job, but I knew I couldn't continue at the same pace.

"I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine. I just need a few days to adjust." I tried to sound convincing, but I knew it was a losing battle.

"We will arrange the leave." He said firmly, giving me no choice.

I left his office with mixed feelings of relief and anxiety. The leave meant time to rest, but it also meant facing the reality of the pregnancy. Time that I don't have because soon my belly will grow.

The days at home were difficult. Loneliness gave me too much time to think, and the pregnancy symptoms were relentless. I spent my mornings dealing with nausea and my afternoons trying to rest, but the constant fear about the future kept me from relaxing.

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