Clara stared at her in disbelief. Just how many surprises would she get today.? She slowly turned the remaining pages which all contained the pictures of the same baby and sometimes with Mira on them. She noticed that the baby was slowly growing up as she turned the pages. But then on the last page, the picture she saw made her jump up; It was still the picture of the cute baby who now looked five months old, however, she was on the hospital bed and many devices were attached to her.
Clara's heart ached tremendously, and she quickly looked up at Mira who was now crying with both palms on her face. Her shoulders slumped and she sighed heavily. She doesn't need to ask what happened next to the baby.
" After that day. . ., I went away to a small province where the lady who took care of me at the orphanage had moved to. . . By that time, she was working in another orphanage in that province then I volunteered to help her take care of the kids." She stopped and wiped her tears with the hanky Clara extended to her, then continued." A few months later, I started having some weird changes in my body and one day I fell sick. . . She took me to the hospital, and there we found out that I was pregnant."
Clara listened to her attentively while wiping her own tears, she couldn't imagine how helpless she would look, as an orphan and also twenty years at that.
Mira sighed and continued." I... I was so scared, Clara, and also confused at the same time. I never expected to be suddenly pregnant. . . and there was one time that I even decided to take my life, but when I thought about the innocent baby in me__"
" Shhh, it's okay, " Clara whispered and hugged her tightly, by then, tears had already stained her face again. She sniffed and patted her friend's back...
" I was very grateful to Mum Sara, she didn't despise me for suddenly getting pregnant, because I didn't tell her what happened between me and Zach until that day. She had even urged me to keep the baby and took very good care of us. . . I thought my life had ended, Clara; being a single mother at only twenty. . . but when I gave birth to my Mira, my heart filled with happiness and her beautiful eyes reminded me so much of Zach."
Clara sighed and looked down at the picture again. The baby's bright eyes and most of her features really looked like a mini Zach's.
" I knew he would detest me more that was why I didn't dare to inform him about the baby, even though I was dying to. Mum Sara would take care of her while I attended college. But then, five months later, she suddenly fell sick." Her sobs intensified and Clara was helpless, as she couldn't stop crying also.
" I felt useless at that time as I and mum Sara could not afford the medical bills. I ran out of options then one day decided to call him. . . he, he didn't pick my call, Clara. I tried so many times again then his text finally came in with two words ' what is it '."
" Huh?" Clara glanced up and stared at Mira's face while releasing her from the hug.
Mira slowly nodded with a sad smile and continued." I texted him back that I wanted to meet him and it was urgent, but he replied curtly that I should just say whatever I want through the text. . . then, I told him everything about how I found out I was pregnant and the baby then how sick she was. . . but__ he replied ' he hated me and doesn't have anything to do with the baby. It was my problem, so I should take care of it alone'."
After some minutes, her cries quieted down and she chuckled sadly. " Even if he detested me so much, why wouldn't he take sympathy to a five months old baby, why wouldn't he feel something for his blood. . . "
" Clara, I loved him so much, I still love him. But I don't think I can forgive him for what he did to my baby. I can't. . ."
" His men had been tracking me these days that was why I don't go out and decided to go back to the province. and." She paused and stared at Clara apologetically while saying softly," . . actually, I've also quit my ob. I can't keep working in that company anymore."
" Mira?" Clara's eyes widened and stared at her perplexedly. She slowly looked down then sighed and held her hands. " I understand Mira, If you don't want to see him again, but your job__"
" Mmm, I know. I'd saved a lot of money. Don't worry. and once I go back to the province, I'll find something else to do."
" Hmmm, are you sure,? " Clara said softly and gazed into her eyes.
" Y..yeah, I'm sure." Mira nodded and they hugged each other again for a long time. ' you only apologized for what happened that night. were you really ashamed to mention what you did to our baby'
' It's alright Mira, I understand your pain. A guy like that doesn't deserve you. You need to live a happy life.' Clara sighed and another tear trickled down her face. ' I will miss you, Mira.'
They hugged each other for a long time and several minutes passed by, while lost in their thoughts and crying silently then finally release each other with a sigh.
"When will you leave?" Clara muttered softly.
" I actually came back to pack my things. . . I'll be leaving the day after tomorrow."
" Mmm." Clara nodded and looked down at the album. " Can I take this?" She removed one photo from the album.
" Sure." Mira chuckled and stared at the picture then sighed. Her heart was finally at ease after letting it all out. " Thank you, Clara. thank you for understanding. I'm really going to miss you."