𝒯he bus jolted as it started moving again. New people got on, some got off. But more people got on than off during rush hour. Men in suits heading to work, grumpy old women giving dirty looks, teenagers in uniforms on their way to school, sometimes holding hands with their younger siblings—that was the usual scene at this time of day. It was early morning, the time when these people were still irritated at having to get up early for whatever they had to do that day. It wasn't your fault; you were just trying to get to the hospital, and it was difficult when you didn't have husband with a car but you did have a baby on the way in your round belly. Anyone a kilometer away could tell you were pregnant. Seven months didn't go unnoticed.

Mark was standing, and he immediately had his eyes on you; it was impossible not to when you looked so beautiful. Radiant, in a loose dress that accentuated the curve of your stomach, your hair styled, and that angelic face. It was a shock to see you clinging to one of the handrails hanging from the bus ceiling to keep from falling. Some people were sitting with their heads buried in their newspapers, others were snoring louder as they pretended to fall asleep, and still others were looking away as if you were invisible. You didn't complain, you just held on tight and rubbed your stomach. But Mike wasn't the kind of man who would let things like that go unpunished. He approached a man sitting near you with his newspaper open and touched his shoulder.

— "Excuse me, can't you see the lady needs a seat?" — he asked, pointing in your direction.

The idiot pretended not to see you there and quickly stood up to offer you his seat. Mike gestured for you to sit down, smoothing his tie and leaning back on a metal pole. After you thanked him, there was silence until Mike spoke again.

— “How far along are you?” — he asked, raising his eyebrows and looking down in your direction.