Katrina
Ishoved the tests into my pocket and splashed cold water on my face, trying to pull myself together. Pregnant. I needed to think. Needed to plan. A knock on the door made me jump.
"Katrina?"
Olek.
"I'm fine," I called, my voice shaking. "Just give me a minute."
"No." His voice was firm. "I'm tired of chasing you down. I'm tired of you running. Open the door."
"I'm busy."
"Katrina." A pause. "Please."
The please broke me. I unlocked the door and stepped out, keeping my hands in my pockets, the tests digging into my palm. He looked exhausted. Dark circles under his eyes. Hair disheveled. Wrinkled shirts, something I'd never seen on him before.
"Can we talk?" he asked quietly. "In your apartment. Please. Just five minutes."
I should say no, tell him I was working. Instead, I nodded. We walked to the apartment in silence. I could feel him watching me, studying me, trying to figure out what was wrong.
Inside, I gestured to the couch. "Zara's with the other kids. We have maybe twenty minutes before.”
"What's in your hands?"
I froze. "What?"
"Your hands. You keep fidgeting with something in your pockets." He moved closer. "What is it?"
My voice cracked. "It's nothing."
"Katrina.”
And then I was crying. Not delicate tears. Ugly, gulping sobs that came from somewhere deep in my chest. All the stress, the fear, the overwhelm of everything in the past week all came pouring out.
"Hey, hey." Olek pulled me against his chest immediately, his arms wrapping around me. "It's okay. Whatever it is, it's okay."
"It's not. Everything's falling apart.”
He held me tighter. "Breathe. Just breathe."
I tried and failed, sobbing harder. He guided me to the couch and pulled me into his lap, rocking me gently like I was a child. His hand stroked my hair, my back, steadily , warmly and safely.
"I'm sorry," I hiccupped.
"Don't apologize. Just let it out."
So I did. I cried about Zara and Shanice. For the contract and the lies. For Marcus getting closer every day. For loving Olek when I wasn't supposed to. For being so scared and overwhelmed and completely out of control.
Slowly, the sobs subsided. My breathing evened out. I was left feeling wrung out and exhausted, but somehow lighter.
"Better?" Olek asked softly.
"A little." I wiped my face. “That was…"
"Human. You're allowed to break down, Katrina. You carry too much by yourself."
"I don't have a choice."
