Rashely went to the empty room next door and sat down on the floor, pulling out a stack of paper and a pencil from her necklace's hidden space. The soft glow from the tablet resting on the bed behind her cast faint shadows on the walls. She bit her lip, fingers trembling slightly as she stared at the blank pages before her.
She needed a nursery.
Not just any nursery—a safe, warm space for the tiny life growing inside her. A place where the baby could feel loved even before it arrived.
Her pencil moved hesitantly at first, sketching rough outlines of a small crib, a changing table, and a rocking chair. Then, as ideas flowed, the drawings became more detailed—soft pastel walls with gentle patterns of stars and moons, shelves filled with plush toys, and a little window with curtains that let in the morning sun.
Her heart ached with a strange mixture of hope and fear.
How could she protect this child in a world she barely understood?
Her thoughts flicked back to the original Rashely—the girl who had suffered so much alone, who had been forced to give up everything, and who had never had a chance to dream of a future.
This time, Rashely vowed silently, things would be different.
She would fight.
She would survive.
She would give this baby the love and life it deserved.
The pencil paused. Her hand hovered over the paper, then added a small detail—a delicate mobile hanging above the crib, shaped like tiny clouds and stars that would slowly rotate and glow at night.
A soft smile crept onto her lips.
"I can do this," she whispered.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft beep from the tablet. She glanced over and saw a new message notification. Curious, she swiped it open.
The sender was a familiar name—Ethan.
The boy she had once loved.
The boy she had left without explanation.
The message read:
"Rashely, I don't know what you're going through, but if you ever need someone, I'm here. No matter what."
Her heart tightened. A sudden flood of emotions crashed through her—guilt, sadness, and a fragile hope.
She stared at the message, fingers trembling as she considered her response.
For the first time since waking in this new life, Rashely felt the faintest glimmer of connection.
Maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to face this alone.
She folded the paper gently and placed it back into her necklace's space.
Tomorrow, she would start building her future—not just for herself, but for the little life growing inside her.
And maybe, someday, she could find a way back to Ethan.