Chapter 1

"Yes? How can I help you?" The principal’s voice was a deep baritone, carrying a hint of curiosity as Clara stepped into his office. His eyes, dark and calculating, studied her with an intensity that made Clara feel both uneasy and determined.

Clara Jones, a teacher at Brooks International School, had always carried herself with an air of grace and composure. Despite her modest background, she had earned a place in this prestigious school; an accomplishment that seemed doubtful to many who knew her humble origins.

Raised by a hardworking father and a stepmother who barely acknowledged her existence, Clara had never been able to forget the ache of losing her real mother. Yet, she had risen above all of this, finding solace in her work and in the quiet corners of her mind where dreams were free to grow. Her students adored her, and her colleagues respected her calm demeanor and intelligence. She was the epitome of innocence, with a purity that shone brightly in a world that often blurred its lines.

Clara paused for a moment, collecting herself before speaking, her voice steady but tinged with the nervousness that had slowly crept into her heart. "Good day, sir," she began, her eyes briefly meeting him before looking down at the floor. "I'm here to request permission to take some time off from work. I’m not feeling well, sir, and I need to go for a check-up at the hospital."

The principal rose from his chair, his tall frame looming over her. There was a coldness in his expression, his lips curling slightly in an almost aggressive grin. "Are you sure you’re going for a check-up, Clara? Or is this just another one of your little excuses to sneak off and meet one of your many boyfriends? Since you’ve refused my very reasonable proposal to be my girlfriend, I can’t help but wonder if you’re not just using this as an opportunity to satisfy your secret desires."

Clara’s breath hitched in her chest, her heart pounding in her ears. The accusation struck her like a slap, and she could feel her face flush with a mix of anger and embarrassment. How dare he? she thought, her fists clenching at her sides. She had dealt with many things in her life: poverty, loss, and loneliness; but this? This was crossing a line she couldn’t ignore.

Stepping back, she stood tall, her chin lifting slightly as she forced herself to meet his gaze. "With all due respect, sir," she said, her voice quiet but firm, "I don’t have a boyfriend. And I have no idea what you’re talking about. I am simply requesting permission to take care of my health." Her words, though calm, carried a forcefulness that made the principal falter, if only for a brief moment.

For a long, tense second, the two locked eyes. Clara could feel the principal’s gaze turning cold and calculating, as if deciding whether or not to pursue his unwelcome advances. But something in her stance; something in the firmness of her refusal; seemed to break through his unspoken intentions. He grunted and turned away, waving a dismissive hand. "Fine, go ahead," he muttered. "But remember, you only have two days off. Make sure you’re back in time."

Clara didn't waste another second. Without a word, she turned on her heel and walked out of the office, her steps quickening as she made her way down the hall. Her heart was still racing, the mix of anger and relief swirling in her chest as she reached the exit. Two days off... she repeated to herself, though the thought hardly registered. She had just narrowly escaped a situation that could have turned far worse, and yet, a deep unease lingered in the pit of her stomach.

Once outside the school gates, Clara let out a long, shaky breath. She didn’t stop to look around or reflect on the strange conversation. Instead, she headed straight for the bus station, determined to get home as quickly as possible. Her house was far from the school, nestled in a small village that seemed to exist on the fringes of the world, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. But Clara loved it there; the familiar smells, the warmth of home, the quiet solace of her father’s small house.

By the time she reached her front door, the sun was beginning to dip beneath the horizon, casting long shadows across the dusty road. Clara didn’t waste any time. She quickly changed out of her work clothes, tossing them aside before heading straight to the bathroom. The cool water on her skin felt like a balm, washing away the tension of the day. She lingered under the shower, trying to calm her mind. The principal’s words echoed in her head, his insinuations lingering like a dark cloud.

She couldn’t help but wonder what he had meant. Boyfriends? A proposal? Clara shook her head. She had always been careful; careful with her reputation, careful with her heart. She had no interest in romance, not now, not when her life was focused on one thing: her students, her work, and her future.

As she dried off and dressed in simple clothes, Clara sat on the edge of her bed and stared out the window at the darkening sky. Her father’s faint snoring could be heard from the other room, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted.

Tomorrow, she would go to the hospital for a routine check-up, but tonight, she needed peace.

……….

The sterile smell of antiseptic lingered in the air as Clara sat nervously in the waiting area of the hospital. She fidgeted with her phone, scrolling absentmindedly through the endless list of notifications, her thoughts far from what she was reading. It wasn’t like her to feel unwell, but the fatigue and odd discomfort had been persistent for days. Today, she had decided to come in for a routine checkup, hoping for a simple explanation. Little did she know, her life was about to change in ways she never imagined.

“Good morning, Doctor. I’m not feeling well. I’m here for my routine checkup,” Clara said softly, her voice betraying a hint of unease as she approached the doctor’s office. She had hoped this would be a quick visit.

The doctor, a middle-aged man with a calm demeanor, glanced up from his papers and smiled. “You can take a seat over there. I’ll be with you shortly.” His tone was reassuring, but Clara couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.

She sat down, tapping her fingers nervously on her phone, her eyes flitting from the screen to the ticking clock on the wall. Time seemed to drag, each minute stretching longer than the last. She had never felt so anxious in a waiting room before.

After what seemed like an eternity, the doctor called her into one of the examination rooms. “Miss Clara Jones, please come in,” he said, his voice still steady, though Clara noticed a flicker of something in his eyes that she couldn’t quite place.

Clara followed him into the room and settled into the chair as instructed. The doctor went through a series of questions about her health, asking about her diet, her lifestyle, and any symptoms she had been experiencing. Clara answered as best as she could, trying to remember when the fatigue had first begun or if there had been any unusual changes in her body. She had written it off as stress or a passing illness, but now she wasn’t so sure.

When the doctor finished asking his questions, he told Clara he needed to conduct a test. “It’s a standard procedure for a checkup,” he explained, though Clara’s gut told her something was off.

After the test was completed, Clara was told she could return later in the day to pick up her results. However, reluctant to spend money on transport for another trip, Clara made the decision to wait at the hospital, reasoning that she could manage the discomfort for a while longer. It wasn’t ideal, but she could live with it.

The hours dragged on, her mind racing with uncertainty. She tried to keep herself occupied with her phone, but each time she glanced at the clock, it felt as though the hands were mocking her. Finally, as the day began to turn into evening, the doctor called her name again.

"Miss Clara Jones, you can come in now to discuss your results," the doctor’s voice crackled through the intercom. Clara stood up and made her way to his office, her heart pounding in her chest. What could it be? Was it something serious?

She entered the room, trying to remain composed, but the doctor’s serious expression immediately caught her attention. He gestured for her to sit down, and Clara obeyed, her stomach churning with anticipation.

“I have the results of your test, Miss Jones,” the doctor began, his voice grave yet calm. “It seems you are one month pregnant.”

The words hit Clara like a slap in the face. Pregnant? Her mind went completely blank, and she felt as though the ground beneath her was slipping away. She looked at the doctor, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“Pregnant? How? When?” she stammered, her voice shaky. “Are you sure? There must be some mistake.”

The doctor looked at her, a trace of confusion in his expression. “I don’t understand, Miss Clara. The test results are clear. You are pregnant. But, if you have any doubts, I can arrange for further tests.”

Clara’s mind was spinning, her breath coming faster. She stood up abruptly, her hands trembling. “That’s impossible!” she cried. “Can a virgin get pregnant? I haven’t been with anyone. I haven’t been with a man! How can I possibly be pregnant?”

The doctor’s confusion mirrored Clara’s, though he remained calm, his professional demeanor unshaken. “I’m afraid I don’t have an explanation for you, Miss Clara. It’s not something I can just dismiss, but if what you say is true, then I suggest you speak with someone who specializes in these matters.”

Clara collapsed back into the chair, her heart racing in her chest. A whirlwind of emotions consumed her: panic, disbelief, confusion; everything all at once. She had never been with anyone, had never even entertained the thought of becoming intimate with a man. How could this be possible?

The doctor watched her closely, offering a quiet, sympathetic smile, though he was equally baffled by the situation. He knew something wasn’t right, but his hands were tied. The test had come back clear, and there was no denying it.

As Clara sat there, the reality of the situation slowly began to settle in, though it felt surreal, as though she were in the middle of a nightmare from which she couldn’t wake up. The doctor remained silent, knowing that there were no words that could ease her confusion, no answers to give her that would make sense of this strange and inexplicable occurrence.

Clara stood up once again, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. She took a deep breath and turned to face the doctor. “I need to leave,” she muttered. She had to process this on her own. “Thank you, Doctor.”

As she walked out of the office, the world seemed to be spinning around her, the reality of her situation still too much to comprehend. She had come in for a routine checkup, expecting nothing more than a few simple answers. Now, she was left with a question that had no logical answer, a question that would haunt her until she found a way to understand it.

How could she be pregnant?