Chapter 2

I started the day hunched over the toilet bowl, my stomach twisting like a wrung-out rag.

“Fantastic,” I muttered hoarsely, wiping my mouth. “Another perfect morning.”

The mirror above the sink was no help. My hair hung limp, my eyes dull with exhaustion, and dark circles loomed like permanent shadows. If pregnancy came with a glow, mine must’ve been on back order.

After splashing cold water on my face, I trudged into the kitchen and reached for my pack of cigarettes on the counter. One drag—just one—might help me feel normal again.

“Seriously?” Leila’s voice cut through the silence. She was leaning against the fridge, arms crossed, her eyebrows raised.

“Leila, don’t start,” I sighed, shaking a cigarette loose.

Before I could light it, she snatched it from my hand.

“What the hell?” I snapped, glaring at her.

“What the hell, indeed!” she fired back, waving a piece of paper in her other hand—the pregnancy report.

I froze. “Where did you get that?”

“It was on the bathroom sink, genius,” she said, her voice softening. “And I hate to break it to you, mama bear, but smoking’s officially off the table.”

“Leila…” My voice cracked, and I felt the sting of tears in my eyes.

She stepped closer, placing the cigarette and the report on the counter. “Look, I know this is a lot. I know it’s scary. But you’re not doing this alone. I’m here, even if it means wrestling cigarettes out of your hand every morning.”

I reached for the cigarette pack on the counter, only for Leila to slap my hand away.

"Seriously?" I groaned, clutching my stinging fingers. "One cigarette won’t hurt the baby."

Leila’s eyes narrowed as she snatched the pack and held it up like evidence in a courtroom. "One leads to two, and two leads to you chain-smoking like a chimney. Nope. Not happening."

"Leila, give it back."

"Not a chance." She spun on her heel and tossed the pack into the trash.

"You’re unbelievable!" I snapped. Cigarettes had been my escape since I was sixteen. They’d carried me through the stress of college, through assignments, and sleepless nights. This felt like an attack on my sanity.

"You’re pregnant, not invincible," she shot back, crossing her arms. "If you want a bad habit, you can start drinking herbal tea. It’s safe and soothing."

I rolled my eyes. "What’s next? Are you going to cut off my Wi-Fi so I don’t stay up too late?"

Her face turned serious. "Funny you mention that. Last night, you were on your laptop at 4 a.m., and don’t think I didn’t notice."

I groaned. "Leila, I’m finishing my dissertation. I need to graduate."

"You also need to sleep, or do you want a baby born exhausted from the womb?" she countered, her tone sharp.

"Fine!" I threw my hands up. "You win. No smoking, early bedtime, and chamomile tea for life. Anything else?"

Leila smirked, but her expression softened as she grabbed a carton of milk from the fridge. "Now that we’re clear on that, have you thought about… him?"