~Annie~
The warm steam of the bath swirled around me, mingling with the weight of my thoughts as I sat in the tub, soaking in the solitude. It was barely eight in the morning, the sun casting a soft glow through the large windows. Despite the early hour, the house had already come alive with sounds—footsteps in the hall, the faint murmur of servants preparing breakfast downstairs—but I remained in the quiet sanctuary of my room.
At five weeks pregnant, I had already started to show—more than I should have, for my body was no longer just mine. It was now home to a tiny life, growing inside me. But I didn’t feel prepared. I wasn’t ready for this. I wasn’t ready to be a mother, especially without the guidance I so desperately needed. My own mother had abandoned me, neglecting to teach me ab
