I brushed off the lingering unease from my dream and got ready for school. I'm not a fan of baths, so I hopped into the shower instead. The warm water helped wash away the remnants of my nightmare.
After showering, I quickly got dressed in my school uniform - a black skirt and white shirt. I'd pick up my tie at school. As I was leaving my room, Laura was waiting for me in the hallway, a sly grin spreading across her face.
Before I could react, she snapped a picture of me, catching me off guard. I rolled my eyes good-naturedly as Laura giggled.
"Hey, I needed a new profile picture for you!" she teased.
We headed downstairs to the kitchen, where Laura had already prepared a warm bowl of lemon maize meal porridge. We chatted about my first day of school, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves.
As I finished up my breakfast and grabbed my bag, I turned to Laura with a concerned expression. "Hey, are you alright? You're not... showing much, but I know you're pregnant."
Laura smiled reassuringly. "I'm fine, kiddo. I'm not due for another five months. And if things get too hard, I can always move in with my dad for a bit."
I nodded, feeling a bit better. I didn't want anything to happen to Laura or the baby.
With that, I gave Laura a quick hug and headed out the door into uncertainty.