Seven Months Later
"Mama, why is the sky blue?"
Mira's fingers tightened around the steering wheel as she navigated through the quiet streets of San Francisco. The question came from the backseat, where Eli sat with his legs swinging, his big brown eyes watching the sky through the window.
She glanced at him through the rearview mirror, smiling despite the unexpected turn of conversation.
"Well, baby, the sky looks blue because of the way sunlight interacts with the Earth's atmosphere. The light from the sun is made up of different colors, but blue light gets scattered the most, so that's what we see."
Eli frowned slightly, processing her words. "So, the sky isn't really blue?"
Mira chuckled. "No, not really. It just looks that way because of science."
Eli nodded, deep in thought, then grinned. "That means everything we see might not be what it seems!"
Mira's grip on the wheel faltered for just a second. Her heart gave a strange, painful thump.
"Everything we see might not be what it seems."
The words rang in her ears.
How ironic.
She reached over at a red light, ruffling his dark curls.
"You're too smart for your own good, you know that?"
He beamed. "I know!"
She shook her head, amused, but as she gazed at her son through the mirror, a wave of emotions surged through her. He was the best thing that had ever happened to her.
Her mind drifted back to seven months ago, the day everything changed.
---
She had been in San Francisco for barely two weeks when she first started feeling sick. At first, she chalked it up to stress. After all, leaving behind a three-year marriage with nothing but a suitcase and shattered pride was no small feat. But the nausea persisted.
"Mira, you need to see a doctor," Aunt Lily had insisted, handing her a cup of ginger tea.
Mira had waved her off, too exhausted to argue. "It's probably just the flu."
Aunt Lily gave her a knowing look.
"Go take a test, Mira."
"It could be something more serious." Aunt Lily had protested.
She did and the results were out.
The test strip showed two bold pink lines.
She had stared at the pregnancy test for what felt like an eternity, her heart pounding so loudly she thought it might burst.
After seeing a doctor, he informed her that she was two months pregnant.
Her knees had gone weak, and she had sunk into the cold bathroom floor, her hands trembling.
She couldn't believe she was carrying Thane's baby.
She had wanted to cry, scream or maybe even laugh at the cruel irony of it all.
She had left Thane, determined to start over, only to realize she was carrying a piece of him inside her.
She had been terrified. She had no job, no degree, and barely any savings. How was she supposed to raise a child alone?
That night, she had sat by the window, staring at the city lights, tears slipping silently down her cheeks.
"What do I do, Aunt Lily?" she had whispered, voice barely above a breath.
Her aunt had squeezed her hand. "You live, Mira. You pick up the pieces and build a new life, not just for yourself, but for that baby."
And that's exactly what she did.
Mira had worked day and night, taking up small gigs to support herself while preparing for the baby's arrival. It hadn't been easy,there were nights she cried herself to sleep, missing the security she once had, even if it was just an illusion.
But when Eli was born, the moment she held him in her arms, all the pain, and doubts melted away. He became her reason to fight, to survive.
And looking at him now, so full of life and curiosity, she knew she had made the right choice.
And as though, the birth of Eli had sprang up a new session in her life, she had completed her Architecture course in one of the leading universities and now, her life had been a rollercoaster of bliss.
Her constant sleepless nights of waiting for Thane who would never come home were replaced by brand deals, high profile-clients and high-paying gigs.
---
"Mama?"
Mira blinked, snapping out of her thoughts.
Eli was staring at her, his head tilted. "You are thinking too much again."
She chuckled. "Was I?"
"Yup. You always make that face when you're thinking about something sad."
Her heart squeezed. She reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear before smiling softly at him. "I was just thinking about how lucky I am to have you."
Immediately, they reached the school gate, Mira cupped Eli's cheeks.
"Be good, okay?"
"I'm always good," Eli declared proudly before stepping down and running off toward his friends.
Mira admired her son for a while before zooming off.
As soon as Mira stepped into her minimalist-designed office, her personal assistant, Janelle, practically bounced toward her, her face bobbing in excitement.
"Boss, we just landed a huge project!" Janelle beamed, holding up a thick contract file.
Mira raised a brow, setting her handbag on the desk. "How huge are we talking?"
Janelle grinned. "We are multi-million richer."
"It's a luxury resort in Las Vegas. And guess what? The client specifically asked for you to handle it."
Mira's fingers froze over her laptop keyboard.
Las Vegas.
Her pulse quickened, memories flashing before her eyes. The city where Thane lived.
The city had broken her in more ways than she could count.
"Who's the client?" she asked, keeping her voice even.
Janelle flipped through the file. "Some big real estate mogul—uh, His name is Ethan Calloway. His company is funding the entire project. They want a modern, high-end resort, and they want you as the lead architect."
Ethan Calloway. The name wasn't familiar, but Las Vegas was.
Mira's stomach twisted.
She had spent the last four years rebuilding her life, putting every ounce of energy into her work, ensuring Eli had a future she could be proud of. And now, the city that had nearly swallowed her whole was calling her back.
Janelle must have sensed her hesitation. She leaned against the desk, lowering her voice. "Mira, this deal is huge. It'll put your firm on the map internationally. And the contract? You'll be set for years. Are you okay?"
Mira forced a smile. "I'm fine. Just… surprised."
Janelle studied her for a moment before nodding. "Well, you don't have to decide today, but they're expecting an answer by tomorrow."
Mira exhaled, picking up the contract, her fingers tracing the embossed letters.
Was she ready to return?