AN IMPOSSIBLE DECISION
1219 Words
Aurora didn't remember falling asleep.
The last thing she remembered was crying against Shen's chest, her fingers clutching the front of his shirt as the weight of her fears finally overwhelmed her.
When she opened her eyes, she was lying in bed.
The bedroom curtains had been drawn, leaving only a soft glow from the bedside lamp.
She slowly sat up and glanced around.
The room was quiet.
Her eyes fell on the clock.
9:15 p.m.
She had slept for almost three hours.
A dull ache settled in her chest as the memories returned.
The pregnancy test.
Two pink lines.
The baby.
Her baby.
She instinctively placed a trembling hand over her stomach.
"I'm not ready," she whispered.
A knock sounded on the bedroom door.
Before she could answer, Shen stepped inside carrying a tray.
A bowl of chicken soup, sliced fruit, warm tea, and a glass of water rested neatly on it.
"You need to eat."
Aurora looked away.
"I'm not hungry."
"You haven't eaten since breakfast."
"I'm not hungry," she repeated.
Shen quietly placed the tray on the bedside table.
He didn't argue.
He simply pulled a chair beside the bed and sat down.
The silence stretched between them.
Finally, Aurora spoke.
"You must be happy."
His brows knitted together.
"Why would you think that?"
"Because you're going to be a father."
His expression softened.
"I am."
She laughed bitterly.
"I'm not."
He frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean..." Her voice trembled. "I'm scared."
She looked at him for the first time.
"I've worked my whole life to get here."
"My parents died before they could watch me grow up."
"My grandfather sacrificed everything so I could study."
She swallowed hard.
"I promised him I'd graduate with first-class honors."
Tears gathered in her eyes again.
"I can't disappoint him."
Shen remained silent, allowing her to speak.
"I wanted to build my own career."
"I wanted people to know me as Aurora Blake..."
"...not as someone's wife."
The room fell quiet.
Shen finally spoke.
"You can still have all of that."
Aurora shook her head.
"You don't understand."
"I do."
"No, you don't!"
She stood abruptly.
"My body is changing."
"I'll have morning sickness."
"I'll miss classes."
"I'll become the center of gossip if anyone finds out."
Her breathing became uneven.
"And what if I fail?"
"What if I lose everything I've worked for?"
Shen stood as well.
"You won't."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I won't let you."
Aurora stared at him.
"You can't control everything."
"I'm not trying to."
"Then what are you trying to do?"
His answer came without hesitation.
"Protect my family."
The words made her chest tighten.
She turned away before he could see the tears threatening to fall again.
---
The following morning...
Aurora skipped university.
She couldn't face anyone.
Not David.
Not her classmates.
Not Professor Shen.
She spent most of the day sitting on the balcony, staring at the city skyline.
Mrs. Chen brought breakfast.
Untouched.
Lunch.
Untouched.
By evening, Mrs. Chen quietly knocked on Shen's office door downstairs.
"Sir?"
He looked up from his laptop.
"Yes?"
"I'm worried about Mrs. Shen."
"So am I."
"She hasn't eaten."
Shen closed the laptop immediately.
"I'll handle it."
---
Aurora was still outside when he found her.
The evening breeze lifted strands of her hair.
She didn't look at him.
"I heard you skipped class."
"I wasn't feeling well."
"I know."
Neither of them spoke for a while.
Finally, Aurora broke the silence.
"Do you ever regret marrying me?"
The question caught him off guard.
"No."
"You answered too quickly."
"Because I didn't need to think."
She laughed quietly.
"I've regretted it."
His heart clenched.
"I know."
"I thought marrying you would solve my family's problems."
She smiled sadly.
"Instead..."
"It complicated my life."
Shen accepted her honesty.
"If you could go back..."
She looked at him.
"...would you still marry me?"
He stepped closer.
"Yes."
She blinked.
"Even if you knew I'd hate you?"
"Yes."
"Even if you knew we'd fight every day?"
"Yes."
She looked confused.
"Why?"
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet.
From inside, he removed a tiny, slightly worn photograph.
It was from their wedding day.
Aurora stared at it.
She remembered that day clearly.
She had looked nervous.
Unhappy.
Lost.
Shen smiled faintly.
"You never smiled in this picture."
"I didn't want to get married."
"I know."
He gently traced the edge of the photograph with his thumb.
"But I promised myself something that day."
Aurora looked at him.
"What promise?"
"That one day..."
He paused.
"...I'd give you a reason to smile beside me."
Aurora felt her heart ache.
For the first time...
She realized Shen hadn't entered this marriage expecting love.
He had hoped to earn it.
---
Two days later...
Aurora quietly left the penthouse alone.
She stood outside a private medical clinic, clutching her handbag tightly.
Inside was an appointment card.
She took a shaky breath before walking in.
The receptionist smiled politely.
"Good morning."
"I have an appointment."
She gave her name.
The receptionist checked the computer.
"Please have a seat."
Aurora nodded.
She sat in the waiting room, surrounded by women at different stages of pregnancy.
One woman laughed as her husband proudly held an ultrasound picture.
Another rested her head on her partner's shoulder.
Aurora looked away.
She felt completely alone.
Her phone vibrated.
It was Shen.
She ignored it.
A second call.
Ignored.
Then a message.
> Where are you?
She locked her phone.
Minutes later, a nurse appeared.
"Mrs. Shen?"
Aurora slowly stood.
"Please follow me."
She took one step—
"Aurora."
Her heart stopped.
She turned around slowly.
Shen stood at the entrance of the clinic.
His breathing was uneven, as though he had run all the way inside.
His usually neat hair was slightly out of place.
His eyes searched hers desperately.
The nurse looked between them.
"Do you know each other?"
Shen never looked away from Aurora.
"She's my wife."
The waiting room fell silent.
Aurora closed her eyes.
She had never wanted those words spoken in public.
Not here.
Not like this.
She whispered,
"How did you find me?"
Shen held up her phone.
"You left your location sharing on."
Aurora looked away.
"I'm sorry."
He walked toward her slowly.
"You didn't tell me."
"I knew you'd stop me."
"I would."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I can't do this."
"Yes, you can."
"I'll lose everything."
"No."
His voice was calm but unwavering.
"You won't."
She laughed through her tears.
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
He stopped in front of her.
"You will finish university."
"You will graduate."
"You will have your career."
"You will achieve every dream you've ever told me about."
Aurora looked at him with trembling eyes.
"How?"
He gently took both of her hands.
"Because from this moment on..."
"...those dreams aren't yours to carry alone."
She searched his face for doubt.
She found none.
Only quiet certainty.
"I'm your husband."
"I should have acted like one from the beginning."
The tears she'd been holding back finally escaped.
For the first time since discovering she was pregnant...
Aurora didn't feel trapped.
She still felt frightened.
Still uncertain.
But somewhere beneath all the fear...
A small spark of hope began to grow.
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