I couldn’t breathe. Aimee knew who I was. Aimee knew I was pregnant.
“Hey! Hey, it’s okay.” Aimee placed her hand on my shoulder. “Breathe with me, alright?”
I did as she asked, following as she exaggerated each breath, in and out. In and out.
Eventually, slowly, my panic subsided into moderate anxiety, much more manageable.
“You know… about me…” I waved to my stomach.
She nodded. “Sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I don’t mean you any harm. Either of you. I was just so grateful to you, and so… happy about everything that’s happened. I was hoping we could be friends?”
Hope filled her eyes at her question.
I took a moment, letting the words settle over me. She didn’t mean harm. She wanted to be friends.
I thought of Nicole and Asher. Nicole, who was distancing herself f
