A month passed quickly. Caitlin hadn’t dared to contact Daniel again—things had become awkward between them. Besides, she was broke; nearly half her salary had gone to her mother. What made it worse was that Daniel seemed perfectly fine, going about his life as if nothing had happened.
Caitlin sat daydreaming at her desk, fixing Ariana’s messy work—again. Thanks to that woman, Cat had to stay late at the office once more. Sadly, she couldn’t even complain to her boss, much as she wanted to. She wasn’t anyone important here. Who knew what kind of relationship Ariana had with that middle-aged man?
“Done!” Caitlin cheered to herself with pride.
She looked to her right and left—completely alone. The building’s security guard had been making rounds every thirty minutes, reminding her not to forget shutting down her computer before leaving.
Caitlin did everything the guard had warned her about before heading out. She had no desire to linger here longer than she had to. Tomorrow, she’d be back early for work again. Not exactly a prospect she looked forward to.
“My pathetic life,” she muttered bitterly as she rode the elevator down. She was so tired she felt like she needed to be hooked up to an IV at a hospital just to function.
“Maybe it’s better to get sick and never wake up again than to be used and slowly forgotten,” she whispered sadly.
She walked in a daze, not noticing when she bumped into someone. The books the other woman had been carrying fell to the ground. An attractive Asian woman crouched down to gather her things, and Caitlin quickly did the same to help her.
“I’m so sorry—I wasn’t paying attention.”
The woman smiled as she picked up her books. “Oh, no worries. Just a small accident,” she replied gently. “Do you work here?” the woman asked, pointing to Caitlin’s office building.
“Yes, I do.”
“Well, since you helped me pick up my things, here—take my card. If you ever need a new job, feel free to contact me. I work in publishing,” she said warmly. “I’ve heard your company’s a bit... toxic.”
Caitlin accepted the card and read the name: Shiloh Jung. Not exactly a common name for Americans or Brits. Or maybe she just hadn’t come across it before. Perhaps Shiloh was an Asian born in the West.
“Thank you,” Caitlin said politely.
Shiloh smiled and glanced at her watch. “Don’t feel too bad. I have to run. Take care,” she said, excusing herself.
Caitlin stood frozen, thinking about her life—how everyone seemed to drain her dry. Should she switch jobs? Maybe becoming an accountant or admin staff at a publishing house would be... nice.
She looked down the street, spotting Shiloh embracing an Asian man who kissed her briefly on the lips before opening the car door for her. They drove off, leaving Caitlin half-dead with envy.
“Ugh. I should just find a taxi,” she muttered, slipping Shiloh’s card into her bag.
***
Wearing a bunny-print T-shirt and plaid pajama pants, Caitlin was ready for dinner. She had to be frugal—her budget for living expenses was shrinking fast. It was her mother’s fault, always greedy, never satisfied no matter how much money Caitlin sent.
She reheated leftover food from that morning in the microwave. These days, Caitlin had been feeling off. Maybe she’d gained weight without realizing it. Her sleep schedule was all over the place. Was it because of how busy she’d been this past month? All the junk food she’d eaten?
“I guess I really need to start working out,” she sighed, placing a hand on her slightly bloated belly.
She couldn’t sleep well, waking every thirty minutes. Caitlin decided to scroll through social media. Maybe some funny cat videos would calm her down, help her get tired enough to fall asleep. But then—pictures of pasta loaded with cheese made her stomach churn. She could practically smell the pungent aroma. Caitlin bolted to the bathroom and vomited. Her head spun.
She staggered to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water, brushing her fingers through her loose hair. Then... it clicked. Why she’d been feeling so strange. Her thoughts drifted to that night—when Daniel touched her with such tenderness. What if she’d just been denying the truth all along? The truth that she might be... pregnant.
“No way.” Her lips trembled.
The way her body had changed. The absence of her period. It was all starting to add up. But she’d only slept with Daniel that one night—how could she possibly be pregnant already? Or maybe... maybe she was too scared to admit how many times he’d whispered and persuaded her, again and again, even when she was half-asleep.
She blinked, stunned. A single tear rolled down her cheek. What was she supposed to do now? She couldn’t imagine things turning out okay if she told Daniel. He wasn’t the type to be tied down. A baby wouldn’t suddenly make him fall in love with her.
The next morning, on her way to the office, she stopped at a pharmacy to buy a pregnancy test. At work, she kept unusually quiet, not talking to anyone. She’d check the result during lunch break.
In the restroom, she waited anxiously for the test to process. There was still so much she wanted to do—she couldn’t be pregnant now. Caitlin trembled at the thought of a future she couldn't predict, especially one where Daniel might reject her child.
“Please, God... let me not be pregnant,” she whispered, covering the test. She couldn’t bring herself to look at it yet.
She decided she’d wait until she got home. Caitlin refused to ruin her entire day at work. If it turned out she really was pregnant, she’d cry all she wanted in the tiny apartment she called home. Regret always came too late. If only she’d realized the risks, she would’ve gone straight home that night, instead of staying over with Daniel.
Caitlin threw herself into her work, hoping time would move faster if she stayed busy. As soon as she finished her exhausting tasks, she left her desk and rushed to the elevator. She had to know. She had to confirm the truth before she went completely mad. Her fate hung on that little test stick. The taxi dropped her off at her apartment. Even during the ride, she couldn’t sit still. Her head throbbed, and she felt nauseous from the driver’s cologne.