Unknown Pregnancy
Episode 6
Ever since Mark and his mother had left, something had changed within Sandra. The vibrant, lively girl who used to fill the house with laughter and chatter had become a shadow of her former self. She spent most of her days locked away in her room, rarely venturing out, and when she did, it was with a sullen expression that made her aunt worry.
Sandraās aunt, noticed the shift almost immediately. At first, she thought it was just exhaustion, maybe a delayed reaction to all the stress Sandra had been under. But as days turned into weeks, it became clear that this wasnāt just tiredness. Sandra was retreating into herself, and Aunt didnāt know why.
“Sandra,” Aunt Grace called out one afternoon as she stood by the door to Sandraās room, knocking gently. “Are you okay, dear? Youāve been in there for hours.”
There was a long pause before Sandra responded, her voice muffled. “Iām fine, Aunty. Justā¦ just tired.”
Aunt Grace frowned, her concern deepening. “Are you sure, Sandra? Youāve been saying that a lot lately. Youāre not coming down with something, are you?”
“No, Aunty,” Sandra replied quickly, almost too quickly. “Iām okay. I just need some rest.”
But Aunt Grace wasnāt convinced. Sandra had never been the type to isolate herself like this, and it troubled her deeply. She tried to brush it off, to give Sandra the space she seemed to need, but as time went on, the unease flash at her. Something was wrong, and she couldnāt ignore it any longer.
That evening, during dinner, Aunt Grace decided to confront Sandra directly. As they sat at the table, the silence between them was palpable. Sandra picked at her food, barely eating, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.
“Sandra,” Aunt Grace began gently, watching her niece carefully, “Iāve noticed that youāve been acting a bitā¦ different lately. Youāre not yourself. Is everything alright?”
Sandra looked up, startled by the question. She forced a smile, but it didnāt reach her eyes. “Iām fine, Aunty. Really, I am.”
Aunt Grace didnāt let it go. “You donāt seem fine, Sandra. Youāve been spending a lot of time alone, and youāre not eating like you used to. If somethingās bothering you, you know you can talk to me, right?”
Sandra nodded, but she didnāt say anything. She just stared down at her plate, pushing the food around with her fork.
“Sandra, Iām serious,” Aunt pressed, her voice firmer now. “Iām worried about you. Whatās going on?”
Sandra opened her mouth to reply, but before she could say anything, a sudden wave of nausea hit her. She felt her stomach churn violently, and she bolted up from the table, running towards the bathroom.
Aunt Grace was on her feet in an instant, following closely behind. “Sandra! Whatās wrong?” she called out, her voice filled with alarm.
Sandra barely made it to the toilet before she started vomiting, her body trembling with each retch. Aunt Grace stood behind her, rubbing her back gently as Sandra heaved, her concern growing by the second.
“Oh, Sandra,” Aunt Grace murmured, worry etched on her face. “This isnāt just being tired. Youāve been sick, havenāt you? How long has this been going on?”
Sandra shook her head weakly, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “Iām fine, Aunty,” she insisted, though her voice was shaky. “Itās nothing, really.”
Aunt Grace wasnāt convinced. “Sandra, this isnāt nothing. Youāve been acting strange for weeks, and now youāre throwing up. Whatās going on? Are you sick? Have you seen a doctor?”
“No, I donāt need a doctor,” Sandra replied quickly, standing up on unsteady legs. “Iām justā¦ Iām just stressed, thatās all.”
But Aunt Graceās eyes narrowed, her intuition telling her that there was more to this. “Sandraā¦ hmmā¦ hmmā¦” she said, a knowing tone creeping into her voice. “I hope itās not what Iām thinking, oo.”
Sandraās eyes widened in panic, her heart skipping a beat. “No, Aunty, itās not that!” she protested, though she could feel the bile rising in her throat again. “Iām fine, I promise!”
Aunt Grace crossed her arms, looking at Sandra with a mixture of concern and suspicion. “Sandra, are you sure? Because if itās what Iām thinking, hmm.”
Sandraās stomach churned again, and she couldnāt hold it back any longer. She rushed back to the toilet, vomiting violently once more. Aunt Grace watched her, her expression hardening immediately.
To Be Continue
