38. Fear of going back

After being released from the hospital, Lillian returned to her small apartment in Alaska. Despite Mira's constant support, the quiet nights were filled with nothing but her thoughts. She sat by the window, staring out at the snow-covered landscape, her hand resting gently on her growing belly.

"Sebastian," she whispered into the empty room. "What would you say if you were here?"

Days blurred together as Lillian went through the motions of daily life. She tried to focus on her work at the bookstore, but her mind always drifted back to Mexico. She could see Sebastian's face in her dreams and hear his voice in her thoughts. The longing for him was a constant ache in her chest.

Lillian sat in her living room with the thought of her sister Katherine. What would Katherine think if she found out about the baby? The thought sent a shiver down her spine. Katherine had always been a volatile mix of jealousy and resentment, and Lillian could only imagine how she would react to such news.

Lillia