p4ws.

the hard, loud downpour relentlessly pounded the rooftop of lapi and pike’s tiny abode.

“quite the flood, isn’t it?” pike chuckled, seeking solace in the sound of raindrops. lapi, wearing a large smile, nodded in agreement.

lapi and pike had recently started a relationship together, taking the plunge into buying their own house. their tiny home symbolized their commitment to building a life together, and they reveled in its cozy embrace. their relationship flourished, beaming with love and healthiness.

but fate took an unexpected turn when pike impregnated lapi. extremely regretful, pike gave in to the weight of his actions and fled. under the cloak of darkness, he, quietly and quickly, gathered his belongings, leaving nothing but a void in lapi’s heart by daybreak.

unaware of pike’s leave, lapi clung to hope, assuming he had merely ventured out for the day. “perhaps he’s at work,” she whispered, attempting to assure herself everything was okay.

lapi and pike lived in the rainy village of tyiou, whether light or heavy, it was almost always raining.

today, the rain was heavy and continued to mercilessly pelt the roof of her compact house, creating a symphony of drumming sounds that echoed through the air. each raindrop seemed to carry an intensity that matched the confusion and worry stirring within lapi’s heart.

pike had been absent for much longer than his usual work schedule, not responding to any of her desperate calls or messages. the silence weighed heavily on her, filling her mind with fears and doubts. as lapi cradled her swollen belly, feeling the baby’s kicks grow stronger, a surge of panic overcame her.

“what if... what if he’s...” lapi’s voice trailed off, unable to utter the dreadful thought that swallowed her mind. she refused to even think about the possibility of pike abandoning her in this vulnerable state. but as the baby’s movements intensified, lapi’s pain became too intense to ignore. the realization struck her like a lightning bolt.

“i- i think i’m having the baby!” lapi exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and anticipation. she reached for her phone, her shaking hands struggling to dial the emergency number. the sound of her racing heartbeat drowned out the rain as she desperately reached out for help, hoping that someone would answer her plea.

as lapi was rushed to the hospital in the midst of the storm, her panic grew. the sound of the rain pounding on the roof seemed to drown out her own heartbeat. the paramedic’s voice was muffled through the mask and gloves, adding to her sense of disorientation. suddenly, everything went blurry, then black, and lapi lost consciousness.

all she could feel was moving.

when lapi awoke from her unconscious state, her senses were overwhelmed by the sterile environment of the hospital room. the throbbing pain in her body reminded her of the ordeal she had just endured. it smelled like blood and plastic. her vision was still pretty blurry but she managed to look around and felt something on her chest. it was warm and soft.

as she glanced downwards, her eyes fell upon a delicate, crimson-colored bundle lying atop her in the hospital bed. the baby, with its petite form and tufts of dark brown hair, stirred gently in its sleep.

a mix of emotions flooded lapi’s heart, leaving her breathless. with a quivering voice, she uttered, “is this... my baby?”

the sight of the tiny creature, adorned in a preemie-sized diaper, tugged at her heartstrings. the baby’s fragile existence was clear in its deep breaths and feeble cries, overshadowed by the harsh light and chilly air of the room.

“your father and i...” she started, then realized... her boyfriend, this baby’s father, was gone. she felt sad and distant. “we.. we were going to name you kiaro. i- it means to emerge from darkness into light,” lapi smiled. “that’s what you just did, wasn’t it?”

the baby looked up and babbled, “ga-bah..!” lapi chuckled and cradled her tiny child, softly letting out tears of happiness. suddenly, a doctor walked into lapi's vision.

“where is your partner?” she asked. “..or do you not have one..? we can wheelchair you out instead.” the doctor smiled.

“...yes, that would be very helpful,” lapi answered, still thinking about the absence of her significant other.

the doctor who offered guidance helped lapi to the chair. another doctor took kiaro into a bassinet with wheels on the bottom, keeping lapi’s newborn close.

after a few days of staying overnight at the hospital, lapi drove herself home, kiaro in the back seat. as they arrived back to their house, lapi cradled kiaro and rocked her to sleep.

"kiaro," lapi said under her breath, knowing her still-new baby couldn't understand her. "i really miss your father.. i don't know where he went... and i really wish he'd come back." lapi quietly sobbed and put her baby into the crib. she watched the swaddled kiaro drift off to sleep.

lapi walked down the stairs, her blank face staring just in front of her. opening the fridge, she noticed green bottles in the back on the top shelf. "...beer?" she stared for a little longer, wondering, "is this... pike's? but he never drank.."

she moved the milk and fruit covering the sour drinks and took one out, looking at the label.

"well," she thought, opening the bottle, "one sip couldn't hurt."