Torn Between Two World!
"I want to be alone," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
"No, this is not right. You have still not recovered," Archie replied, his voice calm but firm.
"I don't want to repeat myself. Please leave right away. I don't think I am in a state of talking to anyone at this moment," Evelyn insisted, her tone growing more insistent.
"Evelyn, let me stay by your side. Please," Archie's voice softened, desperation creeping in.
That night, Evelyn's voice stood firm yet edged with fatigue as she asked everyone to leave. Her body, weakened by weeks of relentless stress, betrayed her. Just as she turned to push Archie away, her vision blurred, and she collapsed into unconsciousness.
Archie's heart raced as he caught her. The doctor who was still in the mansion soon diagnosed Evelyn with severe dehydration and extreme exhaustion. Her body had endured too much and desperately needed rest.
Despite Evelyn's desire for solitude, Archie refused to leave her side. He sat by her bed, watching over her with unwavering concern. Each shallow breath she took was a stark reminder of her fragility. Though he told Evelyn not to worry, only he knew how hard it was to keep calm. He felt liable for her misery, incompetent for not being able to take care of her and protect her when she needed it most.
But this wouldn't happen again. Archie vowed to himself that he would stay with her every step of the way from now on. He would make up for his past mistakes, ensuring she was never left to face her battles alone.
***
The next day, Evelyn sat on the couch, staring at her hands, her mind a whirlpool of thoughts. The room felt unusually quiet, the silence only amplifying the storm inside her. Archie, unwilling to leave Evelyn alone for a second, stayed close by, watching her with a mix of concern and empathy. Evelyn tried to calm her nerves, but the weight of her predicament was overwhelming.
Finally, Evelyn mustered the strength to look at him. "Archie, I don't know what to do," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Archie moved to sit beside her, gently placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Evelyn, whatever it is, we'll figure it out together. What's on your mind? Have you thought about what is stopping you?"
"I don't know," she admitted, her voice shaking, betraying the calm facade she tried to maintain. "I seriously don't know what to expect from this. No matter what, this is a mistake, and I don't think I could ever give the love this child would need. I genuinely think I should get an abortion. And what about those leaders? They still haven't completely accepted me. It's not even been a month since they acknowledged me as one of their own. They would never accept this unwanted, out-of-wedlock child."
She sighed, feeling the tears well up. "My life is such a mess right now. I can barely take care of myself, let alone a baby. This is just a burden and nothing more. I don't even know if I can give this child a good life. And then there's this guilt. How can I even think about keeping it?"
Archie quietly listened, absorbing each word. Evelyn could hardly keep herself together, and it was evident that she harbored a deep resentment towards the child from the moment she learned about the pregnancy. He knew it would be difficult to convince her otherwise. Though she was right about her current situation, Archie sensed that it wasn't just Evelyn speaking as a person but as the leader of the Davis clan, burdened by her responsibilities and the expectations of those around her.
Stroking her gently, he replied, "It's okay to be scared. But Evelyn, it's only been two weeks. Why don't you give yourself some time? Don't make a hasty decision about something so important. There's no right or wrong answer here. What I want to know is whether you, as Evelyn, the mother of this child, want this child or not. Think about everything—keeping the baby, adoption, even termination. Each choice feels equally impossible and painful to me for now. Just give yourself some time."
"You believe that I should keep it?" Evelyn asked in disbelief. "This was a complete mistake. If I end up having it, every time I look at that face, all I'll see is my deepest regret. How can I carry this life in my womb?"
"I'm not asking you to do anything right now except give yourself time. And I believe you shouldn't worry about what others want or think." He squeezed her hand, his eyes filled with empathy. "You don't have to decide right this second. Take the time you need to think it through. Just know that whatever you choose, I'll support you."
"Thank you," she said, looking at him gratefully.
"You're not alone, Evelyn. We'll get through this together, step by step. Just remember, whatever you decide, it's your choice. Don't let anyone pressure you into anything."
Evelyn felt a small glimmer of hope as she leaned into Archie's embrace. The future was still uncertain, but for the first time in weeks, she didn't feel completely alone. Her friend, her only dearest friend, was finally here with her. She couldn't be more grateful for this moment.
"Archie," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"I'm here, Evelyn. I'm not going anywhere," he replied, his voice tender and reassuring.
Tears welled up in her eyes again, but this time they were different. They were tears of relief, of knowing that despite everything, she was not alone. She squeezed his hand weakly, grateful for his presence.
As the day turned into evening, the bond between them grew stronger, forged by shared pain and an unspoken promise of unwavering support.