The night carved sharp outlines on the elegant facades, headlights gliding over the damp skin of the street.
Wind whipped through Daniel's flashy convertible, but Sophie, in the passenger seat, barely felt it. She clutched her purse tight to her stomach, like she was protecting a fragile secret or maybe a piece of hope, desperate not to fall apart.
She'd spent the entire day rehearsing how to say it, the best way to break the news. But when the time finally came, she failed… There was no air, no words, nothing.
"Daniel…" she hesitated, searching for the courage that slipped further away with every word. He was driving slowly, distracted, his lips set in a line that once might have been a smile.
She glanced at him, eyes already brimming before she could even begin.
"I just need you to listen. You don't have to say anything right now. Just listen, okay?"
His gaze stayed fixed on the road, fingers tapping absentmindedly on the steering wheel, impassive.
"I…" Sophie took a deep breath, feeling every syllable before letting it out. "I'm pregnant."
The car seemed to slow even more. For a second, Daniel didn't respond. The radio played something forgettable, but the silence devoured everything. He pulled at the corner of his mouth, almost a laugh, but there was no humor in it.
"Pregnant?" Daniel repeated, like he was trying out the word. "That happens, you know. Especially if you don't take your pills the right way…" he said, soft, not looking at her.
"It's yours, Daniel. It has to be yours…"
He finally looked at Sophie. His eyes, cold, lingered on her face like he was sizing up an object before putting it back on the shelf.
"I thought you understood how things work around here, babe," he said, his voice low but sharp. "There's no reason to make this complicated. You know that, right? This isn't the kind of memory I want from… this fling we have."
This thing we have? So for Daniel, all those nights together, the long talks until morning, the weekends at the beach, none of it meant anything? It was just some fling? No. Sophie couldn't believe it, refused to accept he could act like this. Her hand reached for his arm, trembling, desperate for a more human response.
"I'm not trying to trap you. I don't want anything from you. I just thought you should know."
"Well, now I know," he said, pulling away from her touch. "And I think you should keep this pregnancy story to yourself. I can't afford any trouble right now, especially this."
Sophie drew in a sharp breath, her chest burning. Anger welled up inside, hot, almost blinding. Her shaky hand grabbed his arm again, this time not asking for anything, just trying to force him to look at her.
"You're a coward, Daniel," she choked out, her voice raw in her throat. "I'm not trash. I'm not disposable, no matter what you think! Look at me! Look at me!"
Daniel let out a short, disgusted laugh.
"Don't make a scene, Sophie. This isn't gonna get you anywhere! Not pity, and definitely not me owning up to your mistake. Grow up."
She could taste the bitterness of disappointment rising in her mouth. The urge hit her hand lifted, almost automatically, landing a light slap on his face. It wasn't about force. It was desperation, a last-ditch attempt to shake him out of whatever mask he was wearing.
"You're not getting away with this," she whispered, voice taut, almost pleading, almost threatening.
He slammed the brakes. The seatbelt yanked her back. Daniel turned, his eyes-ice-cold, not even pretending to hide his contempt.
"Are you out of your mind?" Now his tone was harsh. "You wanna act crazy, out here on the street, with people walking by?"
"I just need you to listen! I'm not going to disappear just because you want me to, Daniel! I'm not—"
Before she could finish, he grabbed her arm hard, his fingers digging in.
"That's enough," he spat. "Get out of the car."
She resisted, tried to pull her arm free, eyes shining with a mix of pride and fear.
"No, you're not leaving me like this, Daniel. You can't—"
"Can't I?!" He shoved her door open with a rough push. "Here's something for you to learn, you bitch! And listen up: if you come after me for anything, I'll kill you and that kid, you hear me? I'LL KILL YOU BOTH!"
He shoved her, and Sophie hit the pavement. The cold asphalt bit into her skin, her purse spilling open: wallet, makeup bag, phone, everything scattering across the street. Through the sound of her own body hitting the ground, she heard the engine roar, tires screeching as Daniel's convertible sped away, leaving her and the world swallowing her whole.