Chapter 277: Fractures of the Forgotten
Easter~
I sat there for what felt like hours, curled up on Jacob’s couch, hugging Donut to my chest as silent tears slid down my cheeks. His scent lingered in the cushions—sweet and very intoxicating—and it only made the hollow ache inside me feel worse.
Why did he leave me like that?
I sniffled and buried my face in Donut’s plush fur. The orange tabby rumbled with a deep, comforting purr, nudging me like he understood every broken piece inside me. My chest twisted with a raw, aching pain. Was it because of the baby? Did he pull away mid-kiss because he suddenly saw me for what I am – an unmarried pregnant woman – and felt disgusted? Shame burned through me, searing hot, and I pressed my face deeper into Donut’s warmth, wishing I could disappear completely.
How could I have been so stupid?
I shook with silent sobs, my tears soaking into Donut’s back. "I’m such an idiot," I whispered brokenly. "How could I let myself think that someone like Jacob...someone like him...would ever want someone like me?"
Donut meowed, pawing at my cheeks with the gentlest little taps, almost as if he was trying to wipe away my tears. I couldn’t help a watery chuckle. "You’re too sweet for this world," I murmured, scratching his chin. He leaned into my touch with a loud purr that vibrated through my chest.
I pulled myself together with great effort. Sitting here, crying in his living room like some abandoned pet myself, wasn’t helping anything. He was gone, and I had to go too. I rose shakily to my feet, clutching the couch for balance as I tried to calm the swirl of nausea and dizziness that always came with sudden movements these days. My hand drifted down to my belly, rubbing the baby bump protectively.
"Come on, Donut," I whispered. "Let’s go home."
I scanned the living room, my heart sinking when I realized I didn’t know where to leave his keys. Would it be rude to put them on the counter? What if someone came in and stole something before he returned? I hesitated for a moment longer, then slipped the warm metal into my pocket.
"He’ll come to my house for you and them," I told Donut, my voice trembling. "He...he knows where to find me."