Why Didn't You Tell Me?

Bella watched me after the living room incident, her gaze tracking me from the couch to kitchen as if she could force the truth out of my lips.

That night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, counting the days I had missed in my head but the numbers didn’t just add up. My period should have come. It was late, too late. My chest tightened on the thought. Stress, that's what I told myself. Just stress. But the fear wouldn’t leave.

I waited until the house was silent. When everyone's doors and lights were off, including the house staffs that had disappeared into their various rooms. Quietly, I pulled on a hoodie, slipped into my flip-flops and left through the side door. The night air felt heavy as I walked two streets down to a small pharmacy. I kept my head down, paid in cash, shoved the box into my bag, and hurried back before anyone could notice.

I used the guest bathroom by the laundry, the one no one ever went near. I locked the door, ripped the box open, and sat on the edge of t