I decided to meet with her.
Honestly, I didn't even know why. I couldn't explain it—not logically and especially not emotionally. It wasn't like I had a reason prepared or something meaningful I was hoping to get out of it. There was just this strange, gnawing pull in my chest that said I needed to go.
So I did.
The place we agreed to meet at was the Leonamon Cake Shop.
The moment I walked in, I saw her.
She was already seated—elegant and composed, as if she'd been waiting for me for a while. Her posture hadn't changed over the years, still carrying that sense of quiet confidence. But what caught me off guard wasn't the familiarity—it was her belly.
Big. Round. Heavy-looking.
It protruded beneath her outfit like a bold, undeniable truth.
She was almost there.
Almost due.
"It's been a while, Irene," she said with a soft smile.
That smile… it completely disarmed me.
