A Call That Changed Her Entire Life

"What about the baby?" Rita's belly had gotten quite big by now. Emily couldn't help but stare at it.

"The baby was an accident," Rita replied nonchalantly," but I'm still going to have it."

"But... why?" continued Emily inquisitively while trying not to step on her toes. Just a little bit ago, Rita was determined to get rid of her unborn child, and now she is so keen on keeping it. 'What had changed?' she was wondering.

It wasn't that she minded. On the contrary, she was happy that Rita was not going through with the abortion. But what had made her change her mind?

"David promised me all his property as long as I keep the child. I think it's a good deal, so I agreed," explained Rita on the same carefree tone. She followed that by a smile and a wink, as if nothing was wrong.

In spite of her bright, large smile, Emily could not reciprocate the gesture. Uncomfortable, she quickly changed the?subject. "Rita, have you been experiencing any nausea or vomiting lately?"

Rita nodded, "Yes."

Indeed, she had been having a hard time eating any meals at all. The simple smell of food would make her vomit. Fruit, however, didn't trigger any unpleasant symptoms; so she ate plenty of those.

She craved cherries often, but it was not yet the season for them. So David decided to ask some merchant friends of his to bring him a few kilos of cherries from abroad when they imported their next batch. He wanted to keep the baby. So it was his duty to accommodate Rita's needs.

All the talk about Rita's morning sickness and cravings led Emily to the realization that her pregnancy had really been a cakewalk compared to her friend's...too much of a cakewalk, in fact. She had not been experiencing any side effects at all.

Rita and her got pregnant around the same time, too. So why wasn't she showing?

Perhaps Rita would have an answer for her, and she did indeed, but it wasn't a convincing answer. "Every woman is built differently," she said," so it's normal for each pregnancy to evolve differently as well. Don't worry about it. Besides, the baby is still too small to be felt. Everything is fine as long as you don't have any discomfort."

But was everything just fine? It had been almost four months. Was the child really that small?

The doubts were starting to eat away at her inner peace, but Rita's argument, even though cliche, did make some sense. Emily reasoned that if she had not had any bad symptoms at all, then everything must still be going well. Otherwise, she would have felt something. "You're right," she told Rita.

"Of course I am. Now, what about your wound? I have brought some herbal tonics for you. They can help speed up the healing process. Remember to eat them."

you, Rita. They will

……

point, all while David was waiting outside for

You told me you were coming

that long. Didn't she realize the time? What was he supposed to do out there for

left. I didn't tell you to stay here, did I?" With a roll of her eyes, she confidently stood her ground while preparing her

was done arguing. Though still angry, he decided to instead take a deep breath and let it go. "Get in

to fulfill her every whim, ' David reflected silently while Rita was getting adjusted in her seat. 'She isn't

the car, with their seat

himself down. But it

am cold.

around like that. "If you are cold, you can cover yourself up

to me." The lack of an answer from him, however, caused her to behave even more like a brat. Noticing David's struggle to swallow

treated this way by

always the one looking for ways to please him. She was the one chasing

declared on a surprised tone. "Ha! Look who's talking!" The past was starting

he had been treating her all these past years? How he had made her feel useless, pointless? How he insulted and humiliated her a million times, while all she

to release some of her thoughts. "You said you were willing to give me everything?you?own if I kept the baby. Now, you can't tolerate me anymore. What about..." Rita paused, drawing a deep breath. No, she wasn't going to go there. She didn't want to talk about the past because she was too embarrassed for allowing love to turn her into such a weak person. The past was gone, and now all she wanted

suddenly came in her field of vision. The car stopped, and inside

head to look at Rita. Her chilling glare made his limbs feel weak.

of any emotions, and her expressionless face was unsettling. It almost felt

more exact, he felt like she saw

changed that much? Or was she just

car. David turned off the air conditioner as well, and for a short while the ride was actually peaceful.

end with Rita bursting into