The past few weeks had been a blur of emotions and exhaustion, each day blending into the next in a never-ending cycle of uncertainty and fear. And through it all, there was one constant presence that lingered in the recesses of my mind: Vince.

I missed him more than words could express, his absence a gaping hole in my heart that no amount of distraction could fill. It felt like a cruel twist of fate, to be carrying his child while simultaneously feeling so utterly alone.

I longed for his presence, for the warmth of his embrace and the sound of his voice whispering sweet nothings in my ear. But the distance between us felt insurmountable, a chasm of misunderstanding and hurt that seemed to widen with each passing day.

And yet, despite the ache of longing that gnawed at my insides, I couldn't bring myself to reach out to him. It felt like a betrayal, to burden him with the weight of my struggles when our relationship was already hanging by a thread.

I tried to push aside my feelings of loneliness and despair, focusing instead on the tiny life growing inside me. But even that brought its own set of challenges, as the exhaustion of pregnancy weighed heavily on my weary body.

I didn't have morning sickness, but I was always tired. Bone-deep exhaustion that seeped into my very soul, leaving me drained and depleted with each passing day. It was a struggle just to get out of bed in the morning, let alone face the world with a smile on my face.

And yet, despite the physical toll it took on me, there was a part of me that reveled in the knowledge that I was carrying Vince's child. A tiny spark of hope amidst the darkness, a reminder that even in my darkest moments, there was still something worth fighting for.

But telling anyone about my pregnancy felt like a betrayal, especially when Vince didn't know yet. It felt wrong to keep such a monumental secret from him, but I couldn't bring myself to shatter the fragile peace that had settled between us.

So I kept silent, burying my fears and insecurities deep within me as I struggled to navigate the tumultuous waters of pregnancy alone. And as each day passed, the weight of my secret grew heavier, threatening to consume me from the inside out.

But through it all, one thing remained constant: my love for Vince, a love that burned bright even in the darkest of times. And as I lay there, cradling my growing belly in the darkness of night, I whispered a silent prayer into the void, hoping against hope that somehow, someway, we would find our way back to each other in the end.

"Niks," muling katok ni Karla sa pinto ng silid na aking tinutuluyan sa bahay ng mga ito.

I groaned, realizing it was already six in the evening dahil nakabalik nang muli ang mga ito mula sa trabaho. Oh, I felt useless. Wala akong ibang ginawa buong araw kundi ang matulog, sobrang sakit kasi ng ulo ko at hindi rin ako makabangon sa kama. Gusto ko lang talagang matulog ng matulog at magpahinga, bukod pa sa ang sakit ng buong katawan ko.

"Niks," tawag ulit niya sa akin. "Naghahanda na ng dinner si Josh. Sumabay ka na sa amin. Mukhang hindi ka ata kumain buong araw, o lumabas man lang ng silid mo."

I groaned, realizing she was right. I hadn't eaten anything dahil buong araw masama ang pakiramdam ko. I struggled to get up, kanina nga when I needed to pee I had to summon all my courage to get out of the bed dahil kung hindi baka dito na mismo ako sa kama umihi.

"I'll be out in a bit," I managed to say in my weakened voice.

"Nicole? Ayos ka lang ba dyan? Para kang may sakit, ah!" Lalong nag-alala si Karla. I bit my lower lip, kilala ko siya, alam kong papasukin niya ako rito para lang makasigurong buhay pa ako. "Papasok ako, ah? Pinag-aalala mo talaga ako, Niks!"

See? Bago pa ako nakasagot ay bumukas na ang pinto, napapikit ako sa biglang pagliwanag ng silid.

As Karla rushed into the room, her face twisted with concern, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for worrying her so much. I attempted to sit up, but my body felt heavy and sluggish, as if weighed down by invisible chains.

"Ano ba 'yang itsura mo?! Oh, my God, Niks!" Karla's voice was tinged with panic as she hurried to my side, her touch cool against my feverish skin. I winced at the contrast, the heat radiating from my body seeming to repel her touch.

"Karla, ayos lang ako," I tried to reassure her, but my words came out as a weak whisper, barely audible over the pounding of my own heart.

Ignoring my feeble protests, Karla checked my temperature, her eyes widening in alarm as she realized just how high my fever was. "Niks, you're burning up!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with panic.

Before I could protest, she was bustling around the room, gathering supplies and fussing over me like a mother hen. Despite my attempts to assure her that I would be fine, she seemed determined to nurse me back to health whether I liked it or not. Isa pa'y masyado rin akong nanghihina para mag protesta.

As she helped me sit up, propping pillows behind my back for support, I couldn't help but feel a swell of gratitude towards her. Despite our occasional disagreements and differences in opinion, Karla had always been there for me when I needed her most.

"Hindi mo na ako kailangan alagaan," I protested weakly, but she merely waved off my protests, her focus solely on tending to my needs. "Maya maya lang ay ayos na rin ako, itutulog ko na lang."

"Anong hindi? Nakita mo ba 'yang itsura mo?" Inirapan niya ako at hindi nagpaawat sa ginagawang pag-aasikaso sa akin. "Kailangan mong magpahinga ng husto, Nicole. Diyos ko ka! I'll make you some soup and tea, and then you can get some sleep."

And try as I might to argue, I found myself too weak and tired to resist. With a resigned sigh, I allowed myself to sink back into the pillows, my eyelids growing heavy with exhaustion.

Hinayaan ko na si Karla sa kung anong ginagawa niyang pag-aasikaso sa akin, and to be honest, I felt relieved na hindi ako mag-isa sa ganitong lagay ko. Masyado akong mahina para sa aming dalawa ng anak ko.

And as I drifted off to sleep, the sound of her gentle footsteps echoing in the background, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. Hinaplos ko ang aking tiyan, whispering to myself softly. "Yeah, we're gonna be okay."