Chapter 75

Zara's POV
We both shook hands, and I felt a mixture of awkwardness and nostalgia. “You look great,” he said, a friendly smile on his face. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, thank you. I’m seven months pregnant now, so there’s a lot to prepare for,” I replied, feeling a little proud as I told him about my pregnancy.
“Oh, wow! Congratulations! That must be so exciting,” he said sincerely. He seemed genuinely surprised and happy to hear my news.
We chatted for a while about the latest news in our respective lives. Mike seemed to have found his own path; he told me about his job and some of the accomplishments he had made.
“I’m glad to hear that. What else are you working on?” I asked, trying to keep the conversation light. Even though our relationship had been in the past, it was nice to hear about other people’s accomplishments.
Soon, my mother approached, curious as to who I was talking to. “Zara, who is this friend of yours?” she asked, catching her attention with a curious look.
“This is Mike, my ex-boyfriend. Mike, this is my mom,” I said, introducing them both. My mother extended her hand, and they introduced themselves.
Mike shook my Mom’s hand respectfully, “It’s nice to meet you. Zara and I have been friends for a long time.”
“He’ll be a great father to his baby,” Mom replied, adding a positive comment that touched me.
The conversation lasted for a few minutes before we parted ways. “It was great getting to know each other again, Zara. Hopefully, we can be friends again someday,” Mike said, bidding me a warm farewell.
“Yes, thank you, Mike. Good luck with everything you do,” I replied, feeling good even though our lives had gone our separate ways.
After Mike left, I turned my attention back to my mom. “She seemed nice,” I said, remembering the moment. Mom simply nodded, making me feel grateful to have shared this experience with her.
In a much better mood, we continued shopping and enjoying some quality time. Reconnecting with Mike gave me a little perspective on how life can take unexpected turns. But right now, I was focused on the love and family I was building—more precious than anything else.
After we finished shopping, my mom and I. She smiled and waved when she saw me get out of the car.
“That’s great! Oh, I wanted to offer to drive you home. It must be a hassle carrying so much stuff,” she offered, pointing to her car parked nearby. Mike’s boldness and confidence made me feel a little curious, but also a little uneasy.
At first, I hesitated. “Actually, I don’t—” but he cut me off, “It’s okay! I’m here, and I’d love to help you.”
After a few seconds of wondering, I decided to take him up on his offer, since he was being nice to me. “Okay, if you’re up for it,” I replied, feeling a little uneasy.
During the ride, Mike seemed eager to tell me about his life. “I’m working for one of the big companies in town now. They’ve got some big projects coming up, and honestly, they’re all really challenging. But I’m enjoying it,” he said with an enthusiastic expression.
“I’m glad to hear that! It sounds like you really enjoy your job,” I said, trying to sound interested even though deep down, I felt overwhelmed with thoughts.
“Yes, I do. It can be very tiring at times, but one thing I’ve found is that the satisfaction of completing a task is very rewarding. I feel like I can make a big difference in my workplace,” Mike explained, his smile genuinely reflecting his satisfaction with what he did.
During the drive, we continued to talk about work experiences, career paths, and future dreams. Oddly enough, I felt a little comforted listening to his enthusiasm. He seemed to have done a lot of positive things in his life.
“And you? What are your plans after the baby is born?” he asked, shifting the morning conversation from work to my personal life.
I took a deep breath, contemplating the situation at hand. “I hope to be a good mother and support my family. But right now, I’m also trying to get things ready and going with Leo. Two months without him might be a challenge,” I said, pouring out a little of my feelings about the longing I felt.
“It’s important to stay positive. Everyone struggles, and you can do it. You seem like a strong person!” Mike gave me a boost that made me feel more confident.
We continued to chat until we arrived home. As I stepped out of his car, with mixed feelings, I said, “Thanks, Mike, for driving me. It was great talking to you.”
“You’re welcome, Zara. Feel free to call me if you need any help or just to talk,” he replied, in a warm tone.
As he left, I reflected on the encounter. Although his presence made me feel a little uncomfortable with my pent-up feelings, talking to him also gave me a little new perspective. In the midst of this journey, I came to realize that the love and support of those around me was the most important thing as we approached the birth of our child.
When I arrived home, exhaustion immediately engulfed my body. After a day of activities, all my energy felt drained. Although I was happy to shop for baby supplies and talk to Mike, my worries about Leo came back to haunt me.
I remembered that yesterday I didn’t have time to ask how to contact Leo. Ever since he left for his planet, there's been no way for me to communicate. His phone is unreachable, and social media seems to have disappeared. All of these thoughts made me anxious and even more worried about how he was doing.
Trying to push away the panic that was starting to eat away at me, I decided to talk to my mom. “Mom, can we talk for a minute?” I asked, hoping that this conversation would ease my mind.