“I’ll apply it now.”
I head to the dresser and grab the bottle, pumping a few drops into my palm, and watching the oil shimmer. It’s hard to believe this tiny bit of liquid is supposed to do so much. Once I'm done with the oil, I go back into my closet and grab a black mesh dress. I pull it on and look in the full-length mirror. In this position, the bump is clearly visible. I rest my hand over the swell, holding it there for a long moment.
In the reflection, I see Alexei staring at me. He stopped getting dressed halfway through - one of his buttons is still undone. He walks over and pulls me against his chest, wrapping his hands around my waist. "How did I get so lucky?" he whispers into my hair. "I don’t deserve you."
He stays quiet for a beat, then asks, "Is it too late to take back my word about you going back to school?"
I pull away and spin around to face him. "It’s definitely too late. You gave me your word, and you’re keeping it."
I grab my bag and double-check the top. I’ve got my textbooks and notebooks arranged perfectly to hide what’s underneath. I even left my laptop and pens where they're easy to see. Deep at the bottom, hidden under everything, are the dark jeans and hoodie I actually need.
"All set?"Alexei asks.
"All set," I answer, nodding, even if I don't feel set at all. We head downstairs in the elevator. The house is still mostly empty, except for Maria and my mother who I may or may not be avoiding. She’s already setting out breakfast in the dining room. She smiles when she sees me.
"Good morning, dear. Sit. I made your favorites."
The table is covered in food. There’s fresh bread, steaming eggs, and fancy yogurt. I take a seat, and Alexei immediately claims the chair right beside mine. He could have picked any of the other six, but he wants to be close.
I chew my food carefully so I don't get sick. When I’m done, Alexei walks to the sideboard. My shoulders tense up instantly. He comes back and puts four pill bottles in a row. "Prenatal. Iron. Folic acid. Calcium."
I stare at them and make a face. "Do I have to?"
“Yes,” Alexei says immediately. He stays in his seat and lines up the bottles until they're perfectly straight. Maria comes over and puts a warm hand on my shoulder. She’s being sweet, but she's totally on his side.
“Come on, dear,” she says. “Just take them. It’ll help you feel less tired.”
I stare at the four pills. They look huge, and just thinking about swallowing them makes me want to gag.
“I’m not tired,” I lie. In reality, I’ve been falling asleep a lot and feeling like I've been hit by a truck.
“You need them for the baby,” Alexei says, his voice going soft. “Please,Vedma.”
Maria pats my shoulder again. “For the little one.”
I realize they aren't going to stop. “Fine. Whatever.”
I take the first pill from Alexei and try to swallow it with some water. Immediately, I start to gag. My body refuses to let it down, and I spit the wet pill into my hand. “I can’t,” I say, gasping for air.
“You can,” Alexei says softly. He pinches my nose shut, blocking my airway. I swallow desperately just so I can breathe again. It hurts my throat, but it’s down.
“Good girl,” he purrs. “Three more to go.”
Maria tries to soothe me, talking about the baby, but I can’t focus. The second pill goes down with another nose pinch. The third pill is worse - I’m gagging and crying now. By the fourth, I’m sobbing into my hands as I force myself to finish.
“This is the worst,” I sob, covering my face with my hands. Alexei pulls me onto his lap right away and lets me cry against his chest.
“I know. I know,” he says softly. He rubs circles on my back while I shake. “But you took them all. You did so well, and I’m proud of you.”
Maria stays close, rubbing my shoulder. She tells me I’m a strong girl and the baby will be healthy.
I wipe my nose on my sleeve and take a shaky breath. “I’m crying over vitamins. How is this my life?”
Alexei kisses the top of my head. “You’re allowed to cry,” he says. “You’re growing a human. It’s okay to hate taking huge pills every morning.”
He holds me until I’m calm, then helps me stand up. “Let’s get you to school.”
Alexei picks up a tote bag and starts laying things out on the counter. He goes through the list: vitamins, water, and snacks like dried fruit and crackers. He even has a pillow for my back and a phone that only connects to him. The last thing he pulls out is a pair of flat shoes.