Elizabeth
Work became a much-needed distraction for me. I threw myself into my job responsibilities, striving to keep my mind active and away from the harsh reality that awaited me outside those four walls. Every time I crossed glances with Alexander, it was as if a whirlwind of emotions erupted within me: love, pain, and now, a secret that had the potential to transform our lives forever. I tried to avoid him as much as possible, but in such a small office space, that was an almost impossible task to accomplish. Every interaction with him awakened within me a storm of feelings that I desperately tried to control.
At the end of the day, I felt completely exhausted, both physically and emotionally. I was aware that upon arriving home I would have to face my brothers and pretend that everything was in order, despite the burden I carried inside. As I walked through the door, I was greeted with cheerful smiles and the captivating aroma of a tasty home-cooked dinner. My brothers, always so considerate and attentive, had gone out of their way to prepare my favorite dish, which made me feel a little more relieved amid the emotional storm I was facing.
“Elizabeth! You're just in time for dinner!” exclaimed my older brother, Tomas, as he enveloped me in a warm hug. “We've prepared something very special for you.”
“Thank you, guys,” I replied, trying to sound as cheerful as possible. “It smells really delicious!”
We took our places around the table and began to enjoy the food. The words of the others flowed naturally, creating a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere; however, I was barely paying attention to what was being said. My mind was wandering to other thoughts, caught up in the uncertainty of the future and the important decisions I had to make. I tried to concentrate on the food, taking a bite into my mouth, but each time I did, I felt the food turn into a heavy load in my stomach, as if each bite was a rock that made my digestion difficult and increased my anxiety.
Suddenly, an intense feeling of nausea washed over me. My stomach began to churn with growing discomfort, and at that moment I realized that I could no longer continue to hide my discomfort. Without thinking twice, I quickly got up from the table and, in a hurry, ran to the bathroom, managing to arrive just in time to avoid a major disaster. Behind me, I could hear my brothers, who, alarmed, followed me, concerned about my condition.
“Elizabeth, are you okay?” asked my younger brother, Javier, with clear concern in his tone of voice.
“Yes, just… a little upset,” I lied, trying to sound convincing. “Must be something I ate.”
Tomas observed me with distrust, his eyes reflecting a mixture of concern and doubt.
“It doesn't sound like just an upset. Are you completely sure everything is okay?”
Despite his question and the unease his words generated in me, I nodded. However, deep down, I was aware that I could not continue to hide reality for much longer.
"Yes, I'm fine," I replied, trying to sound convincing. "I just need to rest a little."
My brothers looked at each other with worried expressions on their faces, but in the end they decided to leave me alone. I settled on the bathroom floor, tucking my legs in and hugging my knees tightly as I struggled to contain the tears that threatened to spill. I was aware that I had to make a decision in the near future; I couldn't keep carrying this secret and facing the constant fear of someone finding out. The pressure was overwhelming and every moment felt like an eternity.
That night, after my brothers had settled into their beds and silence invaded the house, I lay awake, absorbed in my thoughts. Confusion and worry about my situation kept me restless, churning in my mind. It was evident that I needed to vent and talk to someone about what was tormenting me, but I did not feel prepared to face Alexander and the complicated conversation that would entail.
It was then that I decided that the most sensible thing to do would be to seek the support of my closest friend, Laura. She had always been my confidante, the person I could trust without reservation. She was the only one who truly understood me.
................THE NEXT DAY...............
The next day, I called Laura and asked her to meet me at our favorite coffee shop. When I arrived, she was already there, waiting for me with a smile.
“Elizabeth, what's wrong? You look worried."
I sat down across from her and took a sip of my coffee, trying to find the right words. “Laura, I need to tell you something. Something important."
She looked at me with a worried expression on her face. "What's going on? You can tell me anything, I'm here to listen."
I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts before speaking. With some hesitation, I began to tell her the whole story: how my relationship with Alexander had been, the happy moments and the complications that had arisen; then, I mentioned the positive pregnancy test I had recently taken, and how that news had triggered a series of mixed feelings within me. Finally, I confessed my decision not to reveal any of this for the time being. Laura listened to me in silence, paying attention to every word that came out of my mouth.
“Elizabeth, this is… this is really huge,” she finally said, in a tone that denoted both astonishment and concern. “Are you completely sure you're not going to tell Alexander? He has every right to know about this."
“I know,” I replied, as tears began to well up in my eyes and cloud my vision. “But I can’t. Not after what happened at the end. I don't want to ruin his life or his career."
Laura, with an understanding look on her face, took my hand and looked deeply into my eyes.
“I understand that you are afraid,” she said softly, “but you also have to think about yourself and your baby. You cannot carry this weight alone."
I nodded, acknowledging that she was indeed right. However, the mere thought of having to face Alexander filled me with deep terror.
“I need some time to think. I'm still not ready to tell him,” I replied.
“Whatever decision you make, I want you to know that I will be here for you,” she assured me, with sincerity in her gaze. “You don’t have to deal with this alone if you don’t want to."
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