His Destined

Chapter IV

Esme felt heavy after hearing the doctor's words. She was pregnant. The word kept playing in her mind, making her feel trapped.

She needed to tell someone, but who? Her sister Isla came to mind. However, Esme didn't know how to explain this situation to her. She did not want to tell Alexander. She wanted to keep him out of this big change in her life.

Just thinking about him made her stomach turn.

The next day, Carla found Esme during her lunch break. The cafe was busy, with cups clinking and people chatting. Despite the noise, Carla could see that Esme was worried.

Esme pulled Carla aside in the quiet storage room. She looked worried. "You've been acting strange since we got back from the hospital yesterday," Carla said. "You look like you've seen a ghost. What happened?"

Esme's heart raced. She swallowed hard. "I need you to promise me something," she whispered.

Carla raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?"

Esme glanced around the small room. Her hands twisted together nervously. "You can't tell anyone about what happened. Not a word. Not even Isla."

Carla's expression softened, but she still looked confused. She had always been good at reading Esme. "Okay, but you have to tell me what's going on first."

Esme hesitated. She chewed on her lower lip, thinking about what to do. Carla was the only person she could confide in at work. She wanted to share but feared the burden. The thought of gossip and whispers made her feel ashamed.

“Promise me, Carla. Please,” Esme said, her voice shaky.

Carla looked at her with understanding. “I promise, Esme. But you need to tell me what’s wrong.”

Esme took a deep breath. “I’m pregnant.”

Carla’s eyes widened in shock. “What?”

“I’m pregnant,” Esme said again, her voice softer this time. It felt strange to say it.

“Wait, how?” Carla looked confused. “You didn’t…..?”

Esme quickly interrupted her. She didn’t want to talk about her night with Alexander. It was too much to explain. “I just need you to keep this a secret, okay? I don’t want anyone to know. Not yet.”

Carla nodded slowly, looking sympathetic but still confused. “I won’t tell anyone, I promise. But, Esme, you need to make sure you keep up with your checkups.

Esme said quietly, as though the admission of it somehow made it more real. “He gave me some advice and scheduled a checkup for two weeks from now. I can't do thisCarla. I can't have ababy now.”

“You are thinking of terminating the baby?” Carla asked, concern in her voice.

Esme swallowed hard. “I don't know. Maybe. I can't believe I'm saying this.”

Carla stayed quiet. “It's your choice, no judgment. Just make sure you take care of yourself.”

“I’ll be fine,” Esme said, though the lie tasted bitter in her mouth. She couldn’t bring herself to tell Carla that the thought of going back to the doctor filled her with dread.

Carla’s brow wrinkled. “I just want you to be okay, Esme. You’re scaring me.”

“I know. I just... I can’t think about it right now. I have too much to deal with.”

Carla opened her mouth to argue, but before she could say anything more, the café’s bell rang, signaling the arrival of a new customer. Esme quickly straightened herself, forcing a smile.

“Thanks, Carla,” she murmured before stepping back into the bustling café.

*******

The next few days felt long and confusing for Esme. She went to work and completed her shifts. She ate meals, but they barely registered. The growing weight in her stomach was hard to ignore. The nausea didn’t go away; it got worse as her doctor’s appointment approached.

Esme didn’t talk to anyone about what she was feeling. She didn’t tell Isla about it. The silence felt heavy, but it was easier than facing the truth of her situation.

On the morning of her checkup, dread filled her chest. The thought of being back in that clean, clinical room with the doctor made her stomach churn. She still remembered his words: “Congratulations, Ms. Wells. You’re pregnant.”

For days, Esme thought about her options. Each time she considered what to do, uncertainty flooded her mind. Was she ready to be a mother? Could she raise a child alone? The idea of doing it without Alexander and support scared her.

When the appointment day arrived, Esme was extremely anxious. She dressed in a daze and forced herself to eat a few bites of toast, but it didn’t help the nausea that twisted inside her.

The drive to the doctor’s office was silent. It felt too quiet. Outside the car, the world blurred as her thoughts raced.

When she dropped outside the clinic, she felt stuck. The weight of her decision and the thought of facing the doctor again made her stomach turn.

Esme felt tears welling up in her eyes, but she fought them back. She knew she could handle this. She had to. But the thought of the baby inside her scared her deeply.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She looked down and saw a message from Carla. It said, "Please, Esme, talk to Isla about it. Don’t make any unwise decisions today."

Esme’s heart raced as she started to type a reply. But soon, the tears began to fall. The weight of everything felt too heavy. I don’t know if I can do this.

She stared at her phone, her thumb hovering over the delete button. The idea of ending the pregnancy, something she hadn’t thought about until now, felt overwhelming. Could she do it? Could she let go of this child before it had a chance?

Her phone buzzed again, but she ignored it this time. The thought of going to the doctor’s office and facing the truth felt unbearable. She reached for the hospital door handle, unsure of her next step.

The question that had haunted her all week was now all she could think about.

What was she supposed to do?