28. Heavily pregnant

I was watering a few of the flowers near the window when dizziness began to creep over me. I ignored it, brushing the sensation away. I wasn’t ready to be sick, not now. I had just accomplished something I’d dreamed of for so long, opening this shop. But the feverish warmth radiating through my body hinted that this was beyond my will.

"Good morning, Vera." A middle-aged woman greeted me as she entered, her voice warm and familiar. She wandered toward the flower pots in the corner, admiring the displays. The purple flowers, as always, caught her attention, their beauty was undeniable.

Their velvety petals, in deep shades of violet and lavender, seemed to glow softly in the morning light. Clusters of lilacs filled the shop with their sweet, delicate fragrance, while the tall, graceful irises stood proud with their intricately folded petals.

“This is beautiful,” she exclaimed, lifting a flower pot from the table and bringing it over to me. "I want this one."

“That will be ten dollars,”