INVISIBLE TIES

filtered through the curtains and Andrea awakened fro

the room. She turned slightly with her eyes blinking against the

in sleep. For a moment, she watched him and t

touch of regret. The room felt different and was charged with a strange energy, and

ted by the flapping of bird wings

oo, awakened from his sleep, his eyes meeting

usky from sleep. He yawned and str

ay from his. She felt exposed and vulnerable in the light of da

No need to be ashamed, Andrea," he said softly, his eyes warm and understanding. "I

th in them. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit

e felt a pang of guilt, a sense of

f emotions and desires. Now, in the cold light of day,

walked out of the room with her

ade her way back to her own life, leaving behind the

t spilled into the room as she closed the door behind her, and

itting on the couch with her hands folded and her feet tappin

" Nancy exclaimed with her voice mixed

dn't come home last night, and y

e Nancy any worry, and yet here she was, explaining a night that was

not in the mood for excuses. "Well, I hope it's a good

ents of the previous evening, from the lavish charity

ions she had felt, the whirlwind of passion

om frustration to disbelief, and then to am

the billionaire, at the event, got intimate with him, an

hat's pretty much the gist of it," she admitted, feeling a sense

musement. "Izzy, you've got to admit, that's one heck

friend. "I know, right? It's like something ou

ven if it was bizarre. And don't worry about the who

or her understanding friend. "Tha

ut the absurdity of the situation, Andr

Andrea went on with her life. Andrea and Nancy

t. She placed a hand on her stomach with her expression shifting from confus

ely not right. Minutes felt like hours as she waited, her worry deepening with each pas

ger. "Andrea, what's going on? You don't

tion. "Lou, I don't know what's happening. I've been feeling so ti

er brow. She leaned in closer, her voice soft but co

ow in confusion. "What

room. She returned moments later, holding a small white box in her ha

rt pounding in her chest. "Why are

repidation. "Andrea, the symptoms you've been describing-they sound

red the possibility of being pregnant, but now, faced with the test in fr

to the table and placed the small stick on the table, the indicator slowly changing color.