It's all About Perspective
1122 Words
Isadora stepped out of the nursing home into the brisk evening air, her heart heavy with guilt. She had tried—several times, in fact—to tell her father about her pregnancy, but the words had caught in her throat every time. She could still hear his warm voice in her head, calling her “Isa” with so much love and concern. How could she possibly add the weight of this revelation to his already fragile state?
Her thoughts swirled as she drove to the hotel she’d booked for the night, a small boutique establishment not far from Stamford. The room was cozy and well-lit, but its warmth did little to thaw the cold knot in her chest. She set her bag down and collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Her phone buzzed. Isadora glanced at it and saw a video call request from Vivienne and Lysandra. She sighed, knowing full well that ignoring it would only make things worse.
She swiped to answer, and the screen was immediately filled with Lysandra’s grinning face and Vivienne’s calm, expectant expression.
“There she is!” Lysandra exclaimed dramatically. “Our prodigal mother-to-be has returned from the land of nursing homes!”
“Lys!” Vivienne scolded gently, though she couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at her lips. “Give her a chance to breathe.”
Isadora managed a weak smile. “Hey, guys.”
“Don’t ‘hey’ us,” Lysandra said, leaning closer to her screen as though she could glare at Isadora more effectively. “How did it go with Cein? Did you tell him?”
Isadora hesitated, her fingers tightening around the edge of her phone. “I… I couldn’t do it.”
“What?” Lyssandra’s jaw dropped. “Isa! Come on!”
Vivienne leaned forward, her brow furrowing with concern. “What happened? Did Sean make things difficult?”
“No, actually, Sean was... understanding, in his own way,” Isadora said softly. “It’s just… every time I tried to tell Dad, I kept thinking about how it might affect him. He’s already dealing with so much. I didn’t want to add to it.”
“Isa,” Vivienne said gently but firmly, “your dad loves you. Yes, it might be a shock, but it’s better he hears it from you now than find out later when the baby’s almost here.”
“Exactly!” Lysandra chimed in. “You’re just making it harder on yourself by waiting. Honestly, I have half a mind to call him myself and spill the beans!”
Isadora’s eyes widened. “Lysandra! Don’t you dare!”
Lysandra grinned mischievously but raised her hands in surrender. “Relax, I won’t. But seriously, Isa, you need to do this. The longer you wait, the harder it’ll get.”
Isadora sighed, leaning back against the headboard. “I know. I just… I’ll figure it out, okay?”
“Good!” Vivienne said, her tone softening. “But in the meantime, promise us you’ll take care of yourself. And don’t skip meals! You’re eating for two now.”
“Got it, Mom.” Isadora teased lightly, and the three of them shared a small laugh.
After the call ended, Isadora felt a little lighter. She stepped out onto the small balcony attached to her hotel room, hoping the fresh air might clear her head. The view wasn’t much—just the quiet street below and the neighbouring building—but the peaceful night sky brought a sense of calm.
She leaned against the railing, her thoughts still tangled, when a soft voice interrupted her.
“Rough day?”
Startled, Isadora turned to see a man on the balcony next to hers. He was leaning casually against his own railing, a glass of wine in hand. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his warm smile held no trace of judgment, just simple curiosity.
“You could say that.” Isadora replied cautiously, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Same here,” he said, taking a sip of his wine. “You know, sometimes, it helps to talk about it. Even if it’s to a stranger.”
Isadora hesitated but found herself nodding. Maybe it was the anonymity that made it easier, or maybe it was just the exhaustion catching up to her. “Alright, stranger. You first.”
He chuckled. “Fair enough. I’m trying to figure out what to do about opening a new branch of my company. There’s a prime location I’ve been eyeing, but there’s already a growing business there in the same field. I’d rather not buy them out, though. Doesn’t feel right.”
Isadora tilted her head, intrigued despite herself. “Why not partner with them? If their business is growing, they must be doing something right. You could both benefit from combining forces.”
The man’s eyes lit up. “That’s… actually not a bad idea. Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it,” Isadora said, smiling faintly. “Your turn to give advice now.”
“Alright,” he said, setting his glass down on the railing. “What’s bothering you?”
She hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath. “I’m pregnant. And I haven’t told my father yet. He’s… complicated, and I’m scared of how he’ll react. I don’t want to stress him out.”
The man considered this for a moment. “You have two options,” he said thoughtfully. “You can tell him now and give him time to process it, or you can wait until he’s in a better place mentally. Either way, you’re going to have to tell him eventually. The question is, what feels right to you?”
Isadora was silent, mulling over his words.
“Thanks,” she said finally. “That actually helps. I think I’m going to tell him tomorrow.”
He smiled. “Anytime. Looks like we both needed a stranger’s perspective tonight.”
“Looks like it!” she agreed.
As the conversation lulled, Isadora glanced down at her watch and realized how late it had gotten. “Well, I should get some sleep. Thanks for the chat.”
“Anytime!” he said again, raising his glass in a mock toast.
Isadora retreated to her room, her mind clearer than it had been in days. It wasn’t until she was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, that it hit her: she hadn’t even asked for his name.
She laughed softly to herself, shaking her head. “Oh well. Just a stranger..” she murmured, letting sleep take her.
Unbeknownst to her, the man next door was lying awake, thinking the exact same thing.
- Writer
