A ONE NIGHT STAND EXPERIENCE

into her apartment, groaning as the ache in her f

ble than usual, barking orders and treating her like a

ast-minute fabric swatches- that was her job

dy felt drained, her mind even more so. Even the ringing of her phone barely stirre

rl?" Lily's voice w

a sluggish

paused. "Are

out. She treats me like I'm invisible. I swear, if I bring

stview, right? There are so many designers who wou

gh Lily couldn't see her. "I k

gh about your nightmare of a bo

iva said, rubb

yself some comfort snacks, because someone-" she emphasized

ed. "Worst

time off just to deal with it. Luckily, Harry is a

old trickling down her spine. "Wa

the fif

mach cl

.Sh

ed, her tone imme

. I think

le

late

d. "Middle of the

breath. "Okay, okay.

lling through the dates. "Lily... I get tired easily these days. And-" Her e

my g

"Vee. A missed period doesn't automa

ne-night stand and no morning-after pill..." He

pered, "O

chest, the realization hitti

dn't be h

ht be p

strange

TWO LINES OF

s circles. The moment she stepped into Soul Sisters that morning, she k

voice cut through her fog tha

e entire team-do you even have a brai

office we

s she stammered, "I-I'm s

ning out all day. I don't have time for incompetenc

k, but she didn't have it in her today. She walked out of the office in a haze

h twisted. Her fingers trembled as she picked one up. The cashier barely looke

e got home, sh

the edge of her bed and pulled out h

n the first ring.

ard. "I'm about

... whatever happens, we g

ly? What happens then? My dreams of becoming a designer-what if they dis

ng gently, "We'll take it one step at a

. "My mom will probably

ssured. "It'll be hard,

ping the test in her hands

soothed. "Just

nto the bathroom. Her hands were shaki

at she nee

she

d felt like

rances, but Viva barely heard her. Her mind

e timer

she reached for the te

caught in

li

iti

hot through he

she wh

were closing in. The floo

ream tore fr

oo

voice was firm but soothi

her chest. "But I can't do this alone," she cho

sharp, like a blade cutting through the mom

n May

ever used her full name

on. "You were raised by just your mom, and you turned out fine. More than fine. That baby i

eyes as Lily continue

made me a better person. You inspired me. So what you should be thinking about is h

er tears, sw

Lilly said fiercely. "Th

bubbled out

're not alone. And that baby? Alre

ng breath. Maybe she wasn't r

wasn't

ow, that

rough her hair. "I have to tell my mom. And I need to qu

s Viva paced the room, brain

va muttered, rubbing her tem

iva I know. Who would believe that just a few minutes ago, you were all whiny and

. That's far-fetch

g, you'll be talking about nurse

rvive the first convers

'll be fine, Vee. No matter

hard. She hoped

d her this was ju