Aurora sat quietly in the sleek white office, her hands resting gently on her round belly.
The soft hum of the air conditioner filled the room as her eyes wandered over the pastel baby posters on the wall. Each image a smiling baby swaddled in blue or pink pierced her heart a little more.
She had just come back from a sea of memories. Her head still rang with the echoes of Mark's name, the voice that haunted her dreams and her waking thoughts alike. She had tried to bury everything deep, beneath a carefully constructed silence.
But the bump resting against her palms reminded her every second she was never truly free of him. "Mrs. Wilson?" the doctor's voice gently interrupted her spiral.
Aurora blinked, snapping back to the room. "Yes?" Dr. Bennett, a well-respected obstetrician who had been personally assigned to her by her father, glanced at her chart, then offered a calm but serious smile.
"You're doing beautifully. The baby is healthy, your vitals are strong, and you're entering your final lap." Aurora nodded with a tired smile. "That's a relief." Dr. Bennett adjusted her glasses and looked Aurora squarely in the eye. "But… we do have to talk about one thing."
Aurora raised a brow, unsure. "Okay?"
"There's a bit of a physical suggestion I need to make at this stage," the doctor said slowly. "It's a little unconventional to say aloud, but it's medically sound."
Aurora sat up straighter, curious and slightly nervous. Dr. Bennett gave a small chuckle. "I'm going to say this as plainly as possible, Aurora… You need to have more sex."
Aurora blinked. "I'm sorry?"
Dr. Bennett laughed gently. "At this stage of your pregnancy nearing full term having regular sexual intercourse can help soften the cervix, increase pelvic flexibility, and prepare your body for labor. It may even help initiate labor naturally."
Aurora's mouth parted but no words came out. The color drained from her cheeks, and then rushed right back in a pink explosion.
"I— I don't… I mean…" she stammered, tugging at her dress. "Doctor… I'm not with anyone."
Dr. Bennett tilted her head empathetically. "I know your situation. You're separated from the father, but I also know he's been quietly monitoring your progress, sending flowers, and reviewing your reports. He's… involved, in his own way."
Aurora looked away. Her throat tightened. She hated how exposed she suddenly felt.
Yes, he's involved," she murmured. "But from a distance. That doesn't exactly help me in this moment, does it?"
Dr. Bennett gave a sympathetic shrug. "Well, some women use other… safe methods. Or they rely on gentle pelvic exercises. But the most natural and quite effective way is through intimacy."
Aurora exhaled sharply, rubbing her bump. "So what are you saying? I should call my almost ex-husband and ask him to help soften my cervix?" That earned a laugh from the doctor. "I'm saying… it's an option."
Aurora laughed too, but it faded quickly. "You don't understand, Doctor. I can't even forgive him. I'm trying to be strong for this baby, to move on, to prove to everyone to myself that I don't need him."
The doctor leaned forward, her voice softer. "I'm not telling you to take him back. I'm simply giving you options for your health, for the baby's safe delivery. Emotions are complicated. Biology, on the other hand, is direct."
Aurora nodded, chewing her bottom lip.
Mark. Of course it had to come back to him.
He haunted her womb as much as he haunted her heart.
She sighed, rising from the chair slowly. "Thanks, Doctor. I'll… consider all the options." Dr. Bennett smiled. "That's all I ask. And Aurora?" She paused at the door. You're doing great. You're stronger than you think."
Aurora forced a smile and stepped out into the corridor, bodyguards trailing her discreetly. Her hand returned to her belly.
The baby kicked. "I know," she whispered to the baby. "I'm trying."