Anastasia sat on a wooden bench outside the clinic, her hand resting gently on her belly.
Irene stood beside her, holding a small brown envelope that contained the latest scan result.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Irene asked softly.
"Yes… I'm okay," Anastasia replied, though her smile looked faint. "Aurora is healthy, and that's all that matters to me now."
Irene sat beside her. "You've been quiet since we stepped out of the doctor's office."
Anastasia looked at the ground for a second before replying.
"I just can't stop thinking… I wonder if she'll grow up asking about her father. I wonder if I'll have the strength to explain things to her."
"You don't have to carry everything alone, Ana," Irene said gently.
"You've helped me see love in a new way. You stood by me when I didn't even know how to handle my feelings for Garbi. I want to be that person for you too."
Anastasia turned her face slowly toward Irene, touched by her sincerity.
