308 The News

Mirae was sitting at the doctor's office, nervously glancing at the clock. Sunye had accompanied her on her bequest and noticed her fidgeting fingers. She held Mirae's palm in an assuring way.

"Mirae, relax," she said. "It's just a checkup."

"I'm scared Sunye," Mirae admitted. "I can't help but think of all the things that could go wrong."

"Mirae, it's a pregnancy test," Sunye pointed out. "You've already given your urine sample and they'll figure out the rest. It's not that hard!"

"No, it's not that," Mirae said, shaking her head. "It's just that…"

She did not know how to explain it. What if she was pregnant? Then what would happen? Or what if she was not pregnant? Then what will come next? Whatever the outcome was, the threat of the Cartel remained over their heads. A new life would complicate matters for them and yet, a part of her desperately wanted it to be true.