Page 36

Yelena

The day had been perfect—well, almost. Alina and I spent hours combing through upscale boutiques, delighting in soft pastel blankets, plush teddy bears, and adorable tiny clothes that made my heart flutter. We laughed and teased each other, carefully choosing each item with dreams of the new life I carried. Yet beneath Alina's smiles, I sense something is amiss.