The weeks that followed Sooah's decision were a whirlwind of emotions, a delicate balance between fear and hope, uncertainty and determination. Jaemin had stood by her every step of the way, offering her comfort, reassurance, and love. But in the quiet moments, Sooah found herself grappling with a question that gnawed at her, a question she hadn't been able to answer until now.
She sat alone in their bedroom, her fingers absently tracing the edge of the blanket as she stared out the window. The sun was setting, casting a warm golden glow across the city, but it did nothing to ease the storm in her heart.
Sooah's thoughts were conflicted, pulled in two different directions. She had told Jaemin that she wasn't ready for this, that the weight of becoming a mother was too much to bear. But with each passing day, the thought of ending the pregnancy, of letting go of something that was already a part of her, became harder to swallow.
She wasn't ready, not by any stretch of the imagination, but did that mean she should walk away from this life that was growing inside her? The decision to go through with the abortion had seemed like the only option at first, but now, it felt like she was standing at the edge of a cliff, unsure if jumping was the right choice.
Her hand went to her stomach, the faintest flutter of life there—a reminder of everything she had been trying to avoid. She wasn't just fighting her fears anymore; she was fighting herself.
Jaemin had been working late that evening, as was often the case now that the company was demanding more of his time. But tonight, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. He had been able to sense her emotional distance, even as she tried to hide it, and he knew that her decision about the pregnancy was weighing on her more than she let on.
When he returned home, he found her in the bedroom, her gaze distant and lost in thought. The air between them felt thick with unspoken words, and Jaemin could see the turmoil in her eyes.
"Sooah?" he asked gently, stepping closer to her. "Are you okay?"
Sooah's lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out. She blinked rapidly, as if trying to hold back tears, and for a moment, Jaemin feared she might break.
"Sooah," he said again, this time kneeling in front of her so he could look into her eyes. "You don't have to keep it all inside. You can talk to me. Whatever you're feeling, I'll be here for you."
She swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. Her hands clenched the fabric of her dress, her knuckles white with the strain. "Jaemin, I… I'm scared," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don't know what to do anymore. I thought I knew what I wanted, but now… I don't know."
Jaemin reached out, placing his hand over hers, grounding her in the moment. "You don't have to have all the answers right now. Whatever you choose, I'll be here. But it has to be your choice, Sooah. You can't make this decision out of fear. It has to come from you, from what you really want."
Sooah's breath hitched as her eyes filled with tears. "What if I'm not ready? What if I can't do it? I'm still not… I'm still not okay, Jaemin. I can barely take care of myself. How can I take care of a child?"
Jaemin gently cupped her face, his eyes soft but filled with resolve. "If it's too much, you don't have to do it. You don't have to go through with this if it's not the right time for you. I'll be with you no matter what, and we'll figure it out together. I won't let you face this alone."
Sooah closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks as the weight of his words settled on her. She didn't want to let go of this life inside her, but the fear of not being able to give it the love and care it deserved consumed her. She felt so fragile, so broken, and yet…
"I want to keep it," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I want to try. I want us to have this baby, Jaemin. I want to be a mother."
Jaemin's heart clenched at her words. For a moment, he couldn't speak, his emotions flooding him all at once—relief, joy, and an overwhelming sense of love for the woman sitting before him.
But he knew, too, that this was not an easy decision for her. He could see the battle in her eyes, the hesitation, and the fear.
"If it's too much for you, Sooah… if you're not ready—" Jaemin began, but she cut him off.
"I want to," she said again, more firmly this time. "I don't know if I'm ready, but I want to try. I want to be with you, Jaemin. I want us to do this together. I want this child. I want to give it a chance."
Jaemin's heart swelled with pride and love. He pulled her into his arms, holding her close, feeling her trembling against him. "Then we'll do it together, Sooah. Whatever it takes. We'll take it one step at a time. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."
She nodded, burying her face in his chest, feeling the weight of her decision beginning to ease. For the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of peace settle in her heart. She wasn't doing this alone. She had Jaemin by her side, and that made all the difference.
The weeks after Sooah's decision were filled with a quiet determination. She started to take better care of herself, focusing on her health and well-being. It wasn't easy, and there were still days when her fear and anxiety felt overwhelming, but she had Jaemin's unwavering support. He continued his own journey of healing, not for himself, but because he knew that if he didn't take care of his own mental health, he wouldn't be able to be the support Sooah needed.
Sooah's recovery continued, and while she wasn't completely healed, she was slowly getting there. The decision to move forward with the pregnancy gave her a renewed sense of purpose, and the love Jaemin showed her gave her the strength to believe that maybe, just maybe, she could do this.
As the months passed, Sooah's health improved, and Jaemin's steadfast support helped her find the strength she needed. She had moments of doubt, moments when the fear threatened to consume her, but with Jaemin by her side, she learned to face those fears head-on.
And as the baby grew inside her, so did the bond between Jaemin and Sooah. Their love, tested by fear and uncertainty, blossomed into something deeper—something unshakeable.
They were, at last, moving forward. Together.