Chapter Eight 

**Natasha’s POV**

She held my arm as we walked slowly out of Dr. Jones’ office. My legs still felt weak, and I tried not to look at the floor because every step reminded me of what had just happened.

We stepped into the hospital corridor. The smell of the disinfectant was strong, and somewhere down the hall a nurse’s shoes squeaked on the tiles. I kept my head down, my hair falling forward to hide my face because I was so ashamed of myself.

She leaned close and whispered, “Don’t rush. Just walk slowly.”

I nodded without looking at her. My hands were cold, so I rubbed them together as we moved past the waiting area. A mother with a crying baby glanced at us, but I quickly looked away.

When we reached the front desk, the nurse who attended to us earlier smiled faintly and said, “Have a good day.”

I forced a small nod. My voice felt stuck in my throat, so I didn’t reply.

Outside, the late afternoon air touched my face. It was cooler than I expected, and I took a deep breath like I hadn’t been breathing properly inside. The noise of the street felt louder, cars passing, horns honking and people talking.

Ashley guided me to where she had parked my car earlier. She unlocked the door and opened the passenger side for me.

“Easy. Sit down slowly.”

I lowered myself into the seat, wincing just a little at the movement. The seat felt soft and warm from the sun. She walked around and got into the driver’s seat.

For a moment, she didn’t start the car. She just looked at me.

“Are you okay?”

“I think so.” I responded quietly.

“Good. We’re going straight to my place. You need to rest.”

She started the engine, and the gentle hum filled the silence between us. We drove out of the hospital compound, passing the gate where the security guard waved.

I turned my face to the window, watching the buildings pass. My reflection in the glass looked pale, almost like a stranger. My hands rested on my lap, fingers twisting together.

Ashley kept glancing at me when we stopped at traffic lights.

“You sure you don’t want to eat first?”

“Not now… maybe later when we get home, I just need rest.”

The ride felt longer than it really was. Every street we passed looked the same to me, people carrying bags, children running along the sidewalk. My mind wasn’t really there.

When we finally turned into her street, I let out a slow breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. She parked in front of her apartment building, switched off the engine, and turned to me.

“Come on, let’s get you inside.”

She came around to my side, opened the door, and held my arm again. We walked slowly up the steps. The sound of her keys jingling as she unlocked the door felt strangely loud in the quiet afternoon air.

Immediately we entered inside, the faint scent of vanilla candles greeted me. She closed the door gently behind us, like she didn’t want to disturb the stillness.

I laid on the couch, my head resting on a soft pillow. The room was quiet except for the faint sound of traffic outside. My body still felt weak, and there was a dull ache in my lower belly.

Ashley came in from the kitchen holding a glass of water. “Here. Drink this. You need to stay hydrated.”

I took the glass slowly. “Thanks.” then took a small sip, feeling the cool water slide down my throat.

She sat on the chair opposite me, folding her arms. “So… I think you need to call your parents because you can't go back home like this?”

“Yeah, that's true.” I said while sitting up. I reached for my phone, held it in my  hand for a long time before finally dialing my mother’s number. My hands felt a little sweaty.

The phone rang twice before my mum picked up.

“Hello, sweetheart. How are you, you left without informing us, hope you are okay?”

“Hi, Mum… I’m okay.” my voice came out softer than I planned.

“You sound tired. Is everything alright?”

I took a slow breath “Yeah… I just… I was thinking I might stay at Ashley’s place for a day or two. I… I need to clear my head a little.”

“Clear your head? Is something bothering you?”

“Not really. Just… you know, with all this marriage talk, I feel like I need some space to think.”

After a short pause “Hmm… alright, if you think it will help. But are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, Mum. I promise. Ashley is here with me.” I glanced at Ashley, who gave me a small nod.

“Okay then. Just make sure you eat something, and be fine.”

“I will. Thanks, Mum… I love you.”

“Love you too, sweetheart. Rest well.”

I hung up slowly and let out a quiet sigh.

“You see? That wasn’t so bad, at least you have a few days here without anyone suspecting.” she said and patted my knee gently.

“Yeah.” I responded and placed the empty glass on the side table and rested my hands over my stomach without thinking.

She noticed and leaned forward. “Does it still hurt?”

 

“A little… but I’ll be fine.”

 

“You should rest as much as you can. Don’t stress or overthink. Just… let your body recover.”

I nodded, staring at the ceiling. “It feels strange… like something heavy happened but I don’t know how to feel.”

Her voice softened. “You made the right choice. Trust me. Now you can just move on. No one needs to know.”

I turned my head to look at her, a small, tired smile on my lips. “Thank you… for everything today.”

She smiled back, but I could see something flicker in her eyes. She reached for the blanket and gently covered me. “Sleep. I’ll wake you when it’s time for dinner.”

I closed my eyes, but sleep didn’t come quickly. My mind kept replaying the last few hours.

           A Week Later 

I planned to stay for two or three days but ended up staying for almost a week. My body still felt weak, but I was no longer in sharp pain.

The small guest room had become my safe corner. I had it all to myself, the white curtains swayed gently in the breeze, the soft blanket always pulled over my legs, and the faint smell of lavender from the air freshener.

Some mornings Ashley would bring my breakfast:  toasted bread, scrambled eggs, and sometimes a small bowl of fruit.

We would eat quietly in the kitchen, sunlight spilling through the window.

One morning, she looked at me, smiling gently “You’re getting your color back. You look better.”

Softly, with a faint smile, I responded “Thanks… I feel better too. Still tired, but better.”

Her help had made things easier for me, but I couldn’t stay forever to avoid making my parents worried or even suspicious.

By the fifth morning, I  decided it was time to go home. I didn't come with any clothes, just my handbag, so there was no bag packing involved.

I always wear her clothes when I go over to her place to stay. I stared at her for a few seconds and finally spoke quietly “Thanks, babe… for everything, I really appreciate it.”

She reached over and squeezed my hand “Don’t thank me. Just… take care of yourself, okay?”

I nodded, opened the door slowly, and stepped out into the warm afternoon air.

I drove to our apartment. The ride was calm, just the sound of the engine and the soft hum of the radio.

Everything felt too still as I entered my room. My shoes were still by the door where I  had left them. The couch had a thin layer of dust. It was like the room had been holding its breath, waiting for me to return.

I walked to my closet, dropped my bag on the bed, and sank into the mattress.

My body relaxed into the familiar softness, but my mind kept wandering to the abortion, to the days I had spent healing, and to the thoughts I had tried to avoid.

Just as I reached for my blanket, my phone buzzed loudly on the nightstand and kept on vibrating.

The sound made me flinch.

I reached for it, expecting maybe Ashley checking in to know if I reached home safely.

But when I saw the name on the screen, my breath caught in my throat.

My hand froze and my heart gave a hard, heavy thump.

“Why… Why is he calling me?” I whispered to myself.