The color drained from Yekaterina's face. "The... the mafia boss?"
I nodded.
She was quiet for a long moment, then sighed deeply. "Anna, you really know how to complicate your life."
"I know..."
"But," she took my hands in hers, her voice firm, "whatever you decide to do, I'm here for you. Whether you keep the baby or..."
She didn't finish the sentence, but I understood.
I placed my hand over my still-flat stomach, knowing a tiny life was beginning there.
"I want to keep the baby."
The decision had been made the instant I saw those two red lines.
"Then that's what we'll do," Yekaterina said without hesitation. "Don't worry about money—I'll help you."
"Katya, I can't—"
"Don't even try to argue with me," she cut me off. "Remember in middle school when those bullies were making my life hell? You stood by me every single day. You even got into fights defending me. Now it's my turn to take care of you."
My eyes filled with tears again.
"Thank you."
"We're besties," she said simply. "That's whatbesties do."
That night, Yekaterina stayed with me.
We lay together on my narrow single bed just like we used to during high school sleepovers. She told me about the tedious parties she'd been attending, the pretentious socialites, her parents' constant pressure to get married.
I listened, occasionally managing a small laugh, feeling some of the crushing weight lift from my chest.
But after Yekaterina fell asleep, I lay awake staring at the ceiling.
I placed my hand gently on my stomach.
"Baby," I whispered, so quietly only I could hear, "I'm going to protect you. No matter what happens, I promise."
The next morning, I made my decision.
"I'm leaving the city."
Yekaterina was at my tiny stove, making breakfast with organic eggs and whole grain bread she'd picked up from an expensive market. She turned around, startled.
"Leave? Where would you go?"
"Somewhere he'll never find me," I said firmly. "Katya, you don't understand. If he discovers I'm carrying his child... I don't know what he'd do. Maybe he'd force me to get an abortion. Maybe he'd keep me prisoner. Maybe..."
Images from gangster movies flashed through my mind—kidnapping, violence, murder.
"He's too dangerous. I can't take that risk."
Yekaterina considered this, then nodded slowly. "I understand. But what about work?"
"I'll find something in another city..."
