Page 54 of Unravelling: Aria & Crispin
Her periods were notoriously irregular, so the GP had recommended an early ultrasound to help confirm her dates. He was an affable man in his sixties with a fondness for bright, cartoonish ties. Today's pick was Sonic the Hedgehog. At her booking appointment, he'd handed her over to the midwife with a warm smile and a chuckle about "Being old-school about handing over patients."
The midwife in question was a harried woman with frizzy ginger hair that bounced with her every movement and an energy that was somehow both chaotic and cheerfully efficient. She looked like she'd sprinted through half her morning appointments already, but still managed a grin as she handed Aria a stack of leaflets, a list of upcoming appointments, and a bottle of antenatal vitamins.
"You're a little anaemic," she said, scanning the screen rapidly. "Nothing worrying; we'll start you on iron. Side effects may include feeling like you've swallowed nails and the bowel movements of a cement mixer. Welcome to the fun bits."
And then, before Aria could even recover from that mental image, the midwife added with a laugh, "I've got three myself. Honestly, the most peaceful times were when they were inside me. Now, all they want is overpriced makeup, crop tops that barely qualify as fabric, and enough food to feed a rugby team."
Aria blinked, caught between amusement and mild alarm, but the woman had already moved on, her hands flying over the keyboard, muttering about follow-up dates and scan forms.
Aria nodded, half-listening. She planned to read through everything properly when Lule came by for the weekend. It would be easier to make sense of it with her. She was in her last two weeks of her masters, and was due to start her new position full time after that.
Crispin hadn't appeared in person since that last conversation. But his presence lingered in soft, sporadic messages just before sleep.
I am thinking of you.
You are stuck in my head in a loop. Like a song.
Voice notes in his low, worn-out voice: "Did you think about me today?"
Another, almost sheepish: "Did you get the groceries? I wasn't sure what brand of olives you liked, so I got all three."
Aria loved olives, especially the black ones. She hadn't asked for any of it, but things had started appearing by her door in the early mornings-expensive olives in glass jars, fresh vegetables still misted from refrigeration, proper cuts of meat, cartons of milk, and eggs arranged neatly in an insulated bag.
Sometimes he'd text:Are you eating? Don't skip lunch.
Once, simply:I miss your laugh."
He must have noticed things-her hollow cheeks, the way she held herself differently now, quieter, even more withdrawn than before.
He kept a rhythm, a thread connecting them just enough to make her unsure. She had asked for time. This wasn't time; this was a ghost haunting her inbox.
And Aria couldn't help but wonder with confusion,Why now?
Why hadn't he been like this before?
She still had a bit of money left in her rainy-day account and was grateful her job at the café continued without drama. Gallen remained distracted, but kind in his gruff way. It was a quiet mid-morning lull when it happened.
Aria had just bent to pick up a fallen spoon when a wave of heat swept over her. Her skin prickled and sweat broke out along her hairline. The clatter of crockery faded into a high, distant hum. For a moment, everything tilted-the floor, counter, light-and then she was down.
She came to on the long bench seat in the corner of the café, curled into the recovery position. Her cheek was against the cold faux leather, and someone was speaking low and urgent. "Aria. Hey...can you hear me?"She blinked up to see Jacob crouched beside her, one hand hovering as if afraid to touch. His usually placid eyes were sharp with worry.
"I'm okay," she murmured, trying to sit up.
"Whoa, slow down. Just breathe for a minute." His voice was gentle but firm.
Liz appeared, arms crossed, but handed over a glass of water. "Drama queen," Liz muttered as she turned away. "Attention-seeking nonsense."
Aria winced, but Jacob didn't rise to it. He just stayed beside her, watching.
"What happened?" he asked again, softer now.
"I...skipped breakfast," Aria admitted, rubbing her temple.
That was when Gallen lumbered over and made a gruff noise of disapproval. "Sit. Eat. You're no use to me fainting all over the place."
She ended up back on the bench, a plate of eggs and toast in front of her. She managed the toast without bringing it all up. Jacob placed the water in her hands. His fingers brushed hers again, barely a touch.
The contrast hit her hard.
