“I’m pregnant.”
Silence filled the room. The only sound that could be heard was Velia’s whisper. She had been repeating the same words for a while now.
Velia’s mind drifted. Since returning from the hospital, she felt that the world had changed before her eyes. It felt different, leaving an indescribable sense of unfamiliarity.
Everything felt empty. Everything felt uncertain.
On the bed, Velia curled up, hugging her legs. Her head rested on her knees as the doctor’s words echoed in her mind.
“I’m pregnant.”
A shocking reality was displayed right in front of her eyes. Velia could not deny the fact that there was now a life growing inside her womb, her and Lucas’ child.
“I’m pregnant.”
Velia’s breath caught in the onslaught of reality. The news came at a time when she had decided to leave everything behind. And one question arose.
Is this the reason I needed?
That question brought back all the memories and images. Everything started to spin. But Velia realized that there was only one face in her mind.
You have spent seven years of your life, and it still couldn’t replace Lucas in your heart. So why are you still trying? What else will you do to deny that reality?
Conflict ensued. Everything. Every effort to forget Lucas, the fate that brought them back together, and the obstacles that kept them apart.
There was Sandra, who believed that past mistakes should be paid for by Velia’s sorrow. She considers that the suffering she experienced should be compensated with Velia’s tears.
Velia opened her eyes wide. She clenched her stomach, panic on her face.
I can raise this child on my own, but he will experience what Lucas and I have felt.
Velia tensed up. The future loomed with terrifying possibilities. Imagining how the baby in her womb would grow up.
Not knowing their father. Not feeling Lucas’ love. And more than that, he might come to hate Lucas.
The child would experience all the pain. Not exactly the same pain Velia and Lucas had felt, but he would learn about hatred and disappointment. He would become a part of the past that would shape judgments about the future. And it all boiled down to one word.
Suffering.
Velia stood up. She wiped away her tears roughly. Ignoring her appearance, she left the room.
No. This child shouldn’t experience what Lucas and I have felt. I don’t want him to live between two parents who hate each other like Lucas’ mother and my parents. I don’t want him to go through what we’ve been through.
The reason was simple. Love had spread in Velia’s heart. Her primitive instincts surged with an undeniable determination.
I want him to experience happiness. To live and grow up with parents who love him.
For that reason, it was too easy for Velia’s mind to imagine what Lucas would be like as a father. He was tough, of course, but he would teach their child to be strong.
If the child were to cry and feel too tired from Lucas’ discipline, he could run to Velia. She could easily soothe them with tenderness and affection.
Velia entered the elevator. She went down to the lobby and hurried towards the receptionist.
“Good evening, Ms. Howell.”
Velia ignored the polite greeting and immediately asked, “Lucas. Do you have Lucas’ phone number?”
“I’m sorry. What do you mean?”
“I lost my phone,” Velia said hastily. Panic and a push from her heart made her flustered. “I need to contact Lucas Hernandez right now. Do you have his phone number?”
“Please wait a moment. Let me check.”
Velia waited impatiently. Her breath became more irregular as the receptionist typed on the keyboard.
“Mr. Lucas Hernandez’s number is here.”
Feeling a bit relieved, Velia took a deep breath. She pointed at the phone there.
“Can I call him using this phone?”
“Of course.”
The receptionist immediately dialed Lucas’ number. The call connected, and the phone was handed to Velia.
“Here you go.”
Trembling, Velia took it with shaking hands. She waited while her heart raced. Then…
“Hello.”
The deep voice Velia longed to hear became clear. A powerful remedy to calm her chaotic emotions.
“Luc.”
Lucas’s voice sounded uncertain. Accompanied by hesitation in his tone.
“It’s you, Ve?”
Velia bit her lower lip. “I miss you, Luc.”
Silence filled the air for a moment. Then Lucas made a confession.
“I miss you too.”
Velia closed her eyes. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to hold on. She spoke, making a request.
“I want to meet.”
Lucas took a sharp breath. It was audible, too clear in Velia’s ears. But his response was even clearer.
“Do you want me to come and see you?”
Velia was taken aback. The voice sounded so clear. Very clear. So clear that Velia felt as if Lucas was right beside her.
That’s impossible.
Unfortunately, she could not resist the urge. Velia turned her body and gasped.
Not far away, there was Lucas. His tired face held the phone to one ear. Clearly, he was looking at Velia.
“Tell me what you want, Ve. Tell me…”
Velia listened to every word Lucas spoke, both directly and through the phone connection. She was frozen, moved by that feeling.
“… what you want. I’ll do it. Whatever it is.”
Velia covered her mouth with one hand. Tears welled up, and the drops cascaded like an endless rain. Sobbing, she said,
“I want to be with you, Luc.”
Lucas clenched his jaw. His face appeared hardened, as if trying to contain the explosion that could shatter his entire being.
“You know? I will never let you go, Ve. If you want me to be with you,” Lucas whispered hoarsely, brimming with emotion, “I will make sure to marry you, and you will only be with me for the rest of your life.”
Velia could not say anything. With a wet face, she tried to nod.
“I know.”
Lucas took a breath, his sentence unfinished. “I will marry you, and you won’t be able to go anywhere without me.”
“I know, Luc.”
Lucas gasped. Emotions broke through and shattered his defenses. “I will marry you in front of the whole world, and you will forever be mine.”
“I know, Luc,” Velia nodded repeatedly, her tears flowing more intensely. “I know.”
“So, despite all of that, do you still want to be with me?”
One hand clenched Velia’s chest. Too many emotions and desires she wanted to show Lucas. She was engulfed in all the feelings that could not be dismissed. Feelings that would always remain, regardless of how much time had passed without being together.
Love is eternal in distance. Love is everlasting in time. Love always exists.
“I want to. I really want to.”
Velia’s pleading gaze was filled with compassion. Now she would not lie and let honesty speak.
“Never let go of me. No matter how long.”
Velia’s answer struck Lucas’s soul. His body trembled. The waves were so real that it was evident when he lowered the phone from his ear, trying to put it in his pocket.
Velia hurried to do the same. She returned the phone to its place. Ignoring all the eyes in the room, she ran. She could not hold back the longing she had created herself all this time.
Falling and drowning. Velia was immersed in Lucas’s embrace.
“Never leave me again, Ve. Never ask me to leave your life again. Please, don’t.”
Velia sobbed. Lucas’s whispers and strong embrace released the thirst he had held for so long.
Oh, God.
Velia longed for everything that was within Lucas. Her entire body screamed and surrendered. She would never let him go again. She had tried hard enough to stay away. But what happened was the opposite, she became entangled even stronger and tighter.
“I love you, Luc.”
Lucas closed his eyes. He absorbed that sentence with all his feelings. Along with the closing that made his happiness immeasurable.
“Always.”
*