Changes

I was pregnant. I was carrying Killian's child. My body began to shiver, and all my fears began to crawl out to the surface. My hands slid down to my belly, knowing that there was this tiny living thing growing inside me—something I needed to protect. My chest tightened. How was I going to protect it if I didn't know how to protect myself?

The doctor walked out of the room, and Adeline and Ashley sat on both sides of my bed, staring at me as if I had just turned into an alien. “You carry my grandchild,” Adeline finally whispered.

I looked at her and saw a face filled with emotions, so unlike the women I had met months ago. Her eyes coated with tears, and her trembling lips curved into a warm smile. My own eyes filled with tears too as I said a little hoarsely, “I guess I am.”

“Are you OK?” Ashley's eyes filled with worry. “Did you suspect something before? Do you have morning sickness?”

I shook my head. “Maybe I should consider myself lucky, but I didn't notice any symptoms... Maybe t