You are not alone in this
"Us?" Sienna's voice cut through the air, her eyebrow arching in amusement.
Dora stiffened, realizing what she had just said. The word had slipped too easily. She had not meant to say it, had not meant to acknowledge something she had spent so long denying.
"No... I mean…" Dora struggled for words, her hands curling into fists on the table.
Sienna watched her with knowing eyes, waiting for the inevitable breakdown.
"Dora, it is okay. You do not have to explain anything to me. I will stand by you no matter what." She reached across the table, placing a reassuring hand over Dora’s clenched fist.
"No, you do not understand." Dora let out a frustrated breath, slumping in her seat.
Her thoughts raced, crashing into one another like an unstoppable tide. She dug her fingers into her hair, pressing her palms against her temples as if that would somehow stop the flood of emotions overwhelming her.
Sienna remained silent, giving her the space to speak when she was ready.
"I want to believe him," Dora finally admitted, her voice quiet. "But every time I try, that night comes back to me. It is like a nightmare I cannot wake up from."
Her gaze stayed fixed on the table, unable to meet Sienna’s. The pain, the shame, the powerlessness; it was all still fresh, like an open wound refusing to heal.
"I cannot let myself fall into that trap again. I did once, and I lost something I can never get back."
A lump formed in her throat, and she blinked rapidly, pushing back the tears threatening to spill. Sienna squeezed her hand, offering silent comfort.
"He walked away the next day as if it meant nothing. As if I was nothing." Dora’s voice cracked, her nails digging into her palm. "And now he is back. Acting like he cares, like he ever did. But what if this is just another game? What if he is here to break me again?"
A single tear slipped down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away.
"Every moment with him is suffocating. I do not know if it is love, or if my mind is playing tricks on me. I feel pulled toward him, and at the same time, I am terrified."
She inhaled sharply. "What if he wants to punish me again? What if he wants to take more from me? What if he wants me to... to get rid of another child?"
The words left her mouth before she could stop them, and for a moment, silence stretched between them. Sienna's grip on her hand tightened.
"If I let myself believe him, and he betrays me again, I will not survive it."
The weight of her confession pressed down on her chest.
"A part of me still loves him," she whispered, the admission making her feel sick. "And another part of me hates myself for it. What kind of mother does that make me?"
A quiet sob escaped her lips, and she buried her face in her hands.
Sienna exhaled, steady and patient. "You are a woman who has been hurt deeply. But you are also strong, Dora. Do not forget that."
Dora slowly lifted her head, her eyes red-rimmed. "Then why do I feel so lost?"
Sienna opened her mouth to respond, but her gaze flickered to something behind Dora, and she stiffened. Dora noticed the shift in her expression and turned around.
Austin and Douglas stood just a few feet away.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Sienna turned in her seat, narrowing her eyes at them. "Look who decided to eavesdrop."
Douglas smirked, but Austin did not take his eyes off Dora.
Dora’s heart pounded as Austin took a step forward. "That does not make you weak," he said softly. "It makes you human."
She stared at him, her emotions in turmoil.
"And it makes you a mother who will do anything for her child." His gaze held hers, unwavering. "The best kind."
Dora’s breath hitched.
Douglas placed a hand on Austin’s shoulder. "Come on, man. Give her space."
Austin did not move. Dora could not look away from him.
Sienna sighed and stood. "We are leaving."
Dora hesitated, her fingers curling into the fabric of her dress.
"Let’s go out for lunch. I need to breathe." Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Sienna nodded and looped her arm through Dora’s, leading her away. But not before she threw one last glare at the two men.
Dora could still feel Austin’s eyes on her long after she had left the cafeteria.
The cafeteria buzzed with hushed conversations, but at the corner table, Dora sat stiffly, her hands clenched in her lap. The moment she heard her own words slip out, a chill ran down her spine.
“Did you just say us?” Sienna asked, raising an eyebrow.
Dora blinked, stunned at herself. “No… I mean, I did not mean…”
Sienna reached across the table, resting a gentle hand over Dora's. “It is okay. You do not have to explain yourself to me.”
Dora shook her head, frustration clawing at her insides. “No, you do not understand.” Her voice cracked as she looked away.
Sienna stayed silent, waiting.
“I want to believe him,” Dora admitted after a heavy pause. “But every time I try, that night comes back. The shame, the hurt, the betrayal; it suffocates me. I cannot go through it again.”
Her fingers curled around the napkin in front of her, twisting it. “I let myself fall for him once. I chose him over my baby. And what did he do?” A bitter laugh escaped her lips. “He left me the next morning, smiling like he had won.”
A single tear slipped down her cheek. She did not bother wiping it away.
“Maybe he is back for revenge, to break me further. Maybe he just wants to see how much more he can take from me before I shatter completely.” She exhaled sharply. “And the worst part? A piece of me still wants him. And that disgusts me more than anything.”
Sienna squeezed her hand. “You are not alone in this.”
Before Dora could respond, an unfamiliar weight settled in her chest. A presence.
She looked up and found Austin standing behind Sienna, his gaze fixed on her. Douglas stood beside him, watching carefully.
Sienna turned in her seat, sighing. “Looks like your new best friends are here.”
“That makes you a loving and forgiving woman and me a horrible devil,” Austin said, his voice steady, but his eyes giving away something deeper.
Dora's breath hitched.
“And you will be the best mother in the world,” he added, staring into her soul.
Sienna rose from her seat, tugging at Dora’s arm. “Come on, let’s get some air.”
Dora hesitated, her eyes lingering on Austin’s face longer than she intended. His presence was suffocating, not because she despised him, but because the walls she had built were starting to crumble. And she hated herself for it.
“Dora,” Douglas spoke gently. “You need to talk to him. To say what you feel. About him, this situation, your baby. If you both keep shutting each other out, you will only hurt yourselves more.”
Before Sienna could interject, Dora snapped, “And who are you to tell me what I should do?”
Douglas looked taken aback.
Austin’s expression darkened. “You are angry at me. Do not take it out on him.”
Guilt flashed across Dora's face, but anger smothered it quickly. “Just leave me alone. Both of you!” She shoved past them, tears blurring her vision.
Sienna hurried after her, casting a glare at the men before following Dora out the door.
“You should not have done that,” Austin muttered to himself before setting off after them.
**********
“Dora, slow down. You are walking too fast,” Sienna called, panting as she struggled to keep up.
“I do not want to talk. Just let me be!” Dora shouted without turning back.
The streets outside the office were crowded, cars honking, people moving in different directions. Dora barely noticed any of it. Her mind was too tangled, her emotions too raw.
She had hurt Douglas. She had let Austin get into her head again. She felt like she was losing control over herself, her feelings, everything.
She was so lost in thought that she did not hear the warning shouts.
The screech of tires cut through the air.
Her head snapped up.
A car was speeding towards her. It was not an accident. It was deliberate.
Sienna’s scream was the last thing she heard before everything went black.
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