THE TAXONOMY OF LEAVING.

Chapter 6 : Unexpected Beginnings.

Mercy sat alone on the edge of her bed, the soft morning light filtering through the blinds. Her hands trembled slightly as she held the small test, the lines clear and undeniable. Pregnant. Her mind spun, a mix of disbelief, fear, and something unnameable. How could this be? She hadn’t… nothing had happened. Yet there it was—a life quietly forming within her, a secret that seemed impossible yet real.

Her thoughts immediately went to Rune. The brief touch at the café, the lingering brush along the riverbank—it had been enough. She was certain. This was his. The realization sent a jolt through her heart: a combination of awe, excitement, and a deep, terrifying vulnerability.

Mercy pressed the test to her chest, trying to steady her breathing. The room felt smaller somehow, the walls closer, as though the city outside pressed against her with judgment. She had always cataloged absences, endings, exits—but now she was faced with a beginning she hadn’t planned, one that defied explanation.

She went through the day moving carefully, carrying herself as though nothing had changed. At the café, Kara noticed something off immediately.

“You’re… quiet today,” Kara said, sliding into the seat across from her. Her red hair gleamed under the sunlight, her energy usually uncontainable but softened by concern. “Something wrong?”

Mercy forced a smile. “Just tired,” she lied, her fingers tapping against her coffee cup.

Kara frowned, sensing the weight behind the words. “You’re hiding something,” she said gently. “I can feel it.”

Mercy shook her head, her lips pressed tightly together. “I’m fine,” she said again, more firmly this time, though her heart raced with the secret she carried.

Even Adrian noticed. His quiet, analytical gaze lingered longer than usual, sharp and perceptive. He said nothing, as always, but the intensity of his observation made her feel exposed in a way she wasn’t ready for.

At home that evening, Mercy finally allowed herself to sit with the truth. She traced her fingers over her abdomen, the reality of the life she carried sinking in. A strange mixture of fear and wonder filled her—this pregnancy was impossible by normal logic, yet undeniable. And she was certain of the father: Rune.

The thought of telling him made her chest tighten. How would he react? Could he even understand this? The city outside seemed to pause, the usual hum of life muted as she wrestled with the enormity of what was happening. She had never felt so alone, yet so connected to someone who didn’t even know the truth yet.

The next day, Rune appeared at her favorite café, as if sensing her inner turmoil. He looked at her with concern immediately. “You’ve been quiet,” he said softly, settling across from her. “Mercy… what’s wrong?”

She hesitated, the secret heavy on her tongue. “Rune… there’s something I need to tell you,” she whispered. Her voice wavered, betraying the calm she tried to maintain.

He leaned in slightly, sensing her vulnerability. “Whatever it is, we’ll face it together,” he said, his green eyes steady, unwavering.

Mercy took a deep breath, the words spilling out before fear could stop them. “I… I’m pregnant,” she said, each word trembling but clear. “And… it’s yours.”

Rune froze for a heartbeat, then reached across the table, taking her hands gently in his. “Mine?” he asked, disbelief mixed with awe.

“Yes,” she whispered. “I didn’t… it’s… strange. But I’m sure. It’s… you.”

Rune’s grip tightened, not in control but in support. “Mercy… this… this is… incredible,” he said softly, eyes never leaving hers. “And… we’ll handle it. Together.”

Word of Mercy’s pregnancy didn’t spread yet; only those closest to her noticed the subtle changes—her quieter demeanor, the occasional fatigue, the new softness in her gaze. Kara was the first to catch on fully.

“You’re glowing,” Kara said one evening at the café, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. “Something big is happening.”

Mercy laughed nervously, her fingers drumming against the table. “Just… tired,” she replied, though the truth pressed close, almost suffocating.

Even Adrian, ever perceptive, offered small gestures—coffee brought without asking, quiet advice, a presence that made her feel seen without words.

The city outside carried on, oblivious, but Mercy’s world had shifted irreversibly. This was a secret that would change everything—the story she had carefully cataloged about absence and leaving now had a new chapter: an unexplainable beginning, filled with vulnerability, hope, and undeniable connection.

As night fell, Mercy lay awake, tracing her fingers along her abdomen. Thoughts of Rune, of their connection, of the impossible life forming inside her swirled together. She didn’t know what the future held, or how others would react, but she knew one thing with certainty: this pregnancy, miraculous and inexplicable, was theirs. And for the first time in years, she allowed herself to feel a fragile, thrilling hope—that some beginnings, no matter how unexpected, could lead to the love and understanding she had long cataloged but never truly experienced.