Chapter Two:
1353 Words
“Fraya, are you okay?” You seem… distant. » Lizzy's voice pulled me out of my reverie as I stirred my coffee for the third time, watching the swirling shapes.
“Yeah, just… a long night, I guess,” I said with a fake smile.
“Tell me about it.” Daniel had been in a bad mood lately, she sighed, glancing at her untouched cup. I might not even recognize him anymore. »
I swallowed under the weight of guilt. “Really? What do you mean?”
She learned to speak in a low voice, as if the walls had ears. “He’s so far away.” Cold, even. It’s been like this for months. »
“Maybe he’s just stressed?” I said weakly.
“Maybe,” she repeated, looking down. “But I’m tired of making excuses for him. We didn't do that. Well, you know. And it's not like I haven't tried. »
I bit my lip, trying to push away the guilt that was gnawing at me. “Maybe he just needs time.” That's what marriage is all about. “Complicated.”
Tears welled up in Lizzy’s eyes, and she looked away. “Fraya, you’re my best friend. Can I tell you something? Something I haven’t told anyone else?”
My stomach twisted. “Of course, Lizzy. You can tell me everything. »
She hesitated; her fingers trembled as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I-I can’t have kids.” The doctors said it was unlikely. And I knew how much Daniel wanted a family. It drove us apart. »
“Oh, Lizzy,” I whispered, reaching out to shake her hand. “I'm really sorry. I didn't know.”
She choked, wiping her eyes quickly, "I thought it was my fault." Maybe if I could give him a family, maybe he would love me again. »
I didn't say anything, the guilt weighing me down like an anchor. “Lizzy, he should love you for who you are. It's not your fault. »
"But I feel like it," she muttered, looking down. "I don't know how much longer I can pretend like everything's okay. Sometimes I think he's just waiting for a reason to leave."
The words hung in the air, my heart pounding. "I'm not sure, Lizzy. Maybe he's just fighting his own demons."
She looked into my eyes. “I don't know, Fraya. But thank you, you know, for being here. I really don't know what I would do without you. »
I forced myself to smile, to nod, even though I felt the earth crumbling beneath my feet. “I'm here for you. “Always.”
---
Daniel called that evening as I was pacing around my apartment, unable to shake the guilt from my conversation with Lizzy.
“Fraya,” he growled from the bottom of the phone.
I swallowed. “Daniel. We need to talk.”
“Then let’s go,” he replied softly, and I could almost feel his smirk.
“No,” I replied dryly. “Not this time.” We can’t go on like this. »
He was silent for a moment, then sighed. “Meet me at the hotel. We’ll talk about it there.”
I hesitated, but my feet were already pointing toward the door. "Okay. »
---
Entering the hotel room, Daniel pulled me toward him. But I pushed him away.
“No, Daniel. That. This has to stop,” I whispered.
He looked at me, one eyebrow raised, his hand still on my waist. “I don’t think so, Fraya.”
“Yes, I do,” I insisted. “Lizzy told me everything. About your aloofness. Coldness. She thinks it's her fault, Daniel. She thinks you're leaving her because she can't have kids. »
Daniel's face darkened and he moved away from me. “Is that what she told you?” »
“Yes. And I can't. I can't keep betraying her like this. It's not good. »
He laughed bitterly. “So, you're the moral authority now, Fraya?”
“That's not what happened,” I said, stopping. “She's my best friend, Daniel. She doesn't deserve this.”
“What about what I deserve?” he growled in a low, feral voice. “Do you think I like being married?” Trapped in something that is long dead? »
“Why don’t we just end it?” » I asked, my voice trembling.
Then he turned to me, a cruel smile on his lips. “Maybe I will.” »
I swallowed, his words heavy. “So, you’re going to leave her?”
— She deserves to know the truth, doesn't she? He replied coldly. I won't marry out of pity.
- Daniel, I whispered, my heart pounding.
— Enough, Fraya, he interrupted me, his eyes hard. You know what it is.
I felt a lump in my throat as he turned away, leaving me there, a stranger in his world.
---
A few days later, Lizzy called me, her voice trembling.
“He gave me divorce papers,” she sobbed.
I held the phone tightly, not knowing what to say. “Oh Lizzy. I’m so sorry.”
“It was my fault,” she cried. “He said he couldn’t stay in a marriage that couldn’t create a family.”
“That’s not true, Lizzy. “It wasn't your fault,” I said, but the words seemed unnecessary.
"How could he do this to me?" she groaned. "I thought. I thought we would get through this."
I felt my heart break as he said it, even as the guilt gnawed at me. “Lizzy, I'm here for you. “Whatever you need.”
“Thank you, Fraya,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
When I hung up, a wave of nausea hit me and I ran to the bathroom, barely making it in time. I clutched the sink, gasping for air.
it was impossible. But nausea, missed period. all told a story. I fell to the ground, a cold realization washing over me.
|
“Daniel,” I whispered, clutching the phone as he answered. “Fraya,” he replied calmly.
“Me. “I need to see you,” I stammered, trying to control the panic in my voice.
“What’s wrong?
“Meet me at the hotel,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
-
He was waiting for me when I got to him; he’d been waiting for hours.
“What’s the emergency?” he asked as soon as I entered his room.
I took a deep breath and said the words in one breath. “I am. I am pregnant.”
Daniel froze, motionless. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” my voice trembled.
He ran a hand through his hair as he walked around the room. “Does Lizzy know?” »
“No,” I said quickly. “I haven’t told anyone about it. And I don’t know what to do.” »
He turned to me, his eyes intense. “You keep it.”
“What?” I asked, surprised.
“You heard me. You keep it, Fraya. I don’t care what you think, but this… these changes everything.”
“But Daniel,” I whispered, my heart pounding. “That wasn’t… that wasn’t supposed to happen.” »
He leaned closer, his hand on my shoulder. “You’re not alone in this, Fraya.” »
“What are we going to do?” I asked, feeling trapped.
“We’ll figure it out,” he said, his intense gaze never wavering. “But don’t tell Lizzy yet.” Not a word."
I nodded, not having the confidence to speak.
---
That night, I was sitting alone in my apartment when my phone rang. It was Lizzy
“Hey! Come by Daniel's office tomorrow to take care of this. Wish me luck!"
I stared at the screen and felt my heart pounding, terror welling up inside me.
- Writer
