The school bell rang, and the kids excitedly carried their school bags to leave, rushing out of the classroom.
"Careful, don't run." Andrea warned with a smile on her face as the junior high school students left the class.
She too gathered her books, glad the school day was over.
A student approached her, looking downcast. "Teacher, is it true that once you give birth, you won't be our teacher anymore?"
Andrea was caught off guard by the question. She placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Is that why you're upset?"
The girl nodded, eyes filling with tears.
"I don't want you to go," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
"Then does that mean after you give birth, you will still be our class teacher?"
"Yes," Andrea nodded. "But I'll need some time off to take care of the baby."
The girl's eyes filled with concern. "But you'll come back?"
Andrea laughed softly, gently dragging her cheek as she replied, "I will be back."
The girl's face brightened after hearing that, and she signaled for Andrea to bend down.
Andrea slightly lower herself and gasped when the girl kissed her cheek, saying, "I love you, teacher."
"I love you too; now go; I'm sure your mom is already waiting for you." Andrea said and laughed softly as the girl ran out.
Left alone in the classroom, Andrea placed a hand on her belly. She was already eight months pregnant, and in a month, her little baby will be in her arms.
"I'm sure you are hungry by now." She whispered. "Let's go home and make something for both you and your dad. He has been working really hard lately."
It's been a week since she said 'I do' to her husband, Fabian Kline, who pursued her for months after their one-night stand.
Apart from his persistence on them being together, she also liked how charming, funny, and attentive he always was with her. It's like she is the only one in his world, and after losing her parents in a fire accident, she never thought a drunken night would bring her a family.
Andrea came out of the school and went to her car, which Fabian had bought for her after their wedding.
As she drove home, she decided to call her husband and asked him what he wanted to eat, but unfortunately, the call went to a voicemail.
"Is he busy?" Andrea asked herself, calling him again, and this time, the call went through.
"I'm at the market; is there anything special you want me to make for you?" Andrea asked with a smile, stopping at the supermarket. She came down from the car but frowned when she heard no response.
"Hello, Fabian, Are you there?" Andrea asked softly, wondering why he wasn't saying anything. She was about to end the call and call back again when an unfamiliar male voice answered.
"Hello. This is Officer Jack. Who am I speaking with?" The male voice asked.
Officer? "Where is the owner of this phone? Is he at the police station? Did something happen?"
"How are you related to the victim?"
"Victim? What...what are you talking about?"
The male voice suddenly went silent, and Andrea thought the call had been disconnected when she heard the man say, "I'm sorry to tell you this, but the owner of this phone just had a terrible accident. His car went off a cliff and was burnt. Chances of survival are zero, and so far his phone is the only means of identification."
"What...what are you saying? You are lying. Please, give the phone to Fabian and tell him that it's his Andrea speaking." Andrea pleaded as her breath became heavy.
"I'm sorry for your loss. You can come down to the police station to confirm his body, but I doubt if you will even be able to recognize it." The officer said, and the call got disconnected.
Andrea phone slipped from her grasp as she clutched her belly protectively
A scream torn from her throat as she felt an intense pain in her belly.
People who stood around the supermarket immediately rushed to her, asking her what's wrong, but she couldn't say a thing.
She knew it was a lie and that nothing had happened to Fabian. He would never leave her alone with their baby; the police must have called her by mistake.
"We need to get her to a hospital." A woman said, as she saw blood flowing down Andrea's leg, and this was also the last thing she heard before losing consciousness.
Andrea's eyes slowly opened as she heard the beeping sound of a machine. "Fabian. Call Fabian."
"She is awake; we have to deliver the baby now."
Baby? "My baby." Andrea whispered and suddenly lost consciousness again.
This time when she fell unconscious, she had a nice dream, or so she thought. She saw her husband holding a baby in his arms and looking at her with so much affection in his eyes as he said, "He looks like an angel, just like you."
"What should we name him?"
Fabian gaze turned teary, "I'm sorry, Andrea. I'm so sorry."
"What's wrong? What are you apologizing for?" There was a glimpse of fear in Andrea eyes as she asked.
Fabian just shook his head and slowly stepped back with the baby.
"Where are you going? Please, don't leave me. Don't take him away from me!" Andrea screamed and tried to get up from the bed but fell on the floor. She could only sob helplessly as her husband disappeared with their baby, leaving her in total darkness.