Unspoken Fears

That evening, Nanette and Valdi sat together on the back terrace, the soft glow of the pool lights flickering in the water. The night was still, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. After a long day spent with their daughter at the mall, they finally had a moment to themselves. Just the two of them, a glass of wine in hand, wrapped in each other's arms.

Nanette nestled closer to Valdi, resting her head against his shoulder. “Do you remember the first time we met?” she asked, her voice laced with nostalgia.

Valdi chuckled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “How could I forget? I was so flustered I let go of my laptop. That thing cost me a fortune, you know?”

Nanette laughed, the sound rich and full. “Oh, please! You looked like a deer in headlights when I walked up to you. Just imagine, a confident young woman striding up to the great Valdi, asking for his number. And you? You just froze.”

“I was caught off guard,” Valdi admitted, shaking his head. “Here I was, giving a guest lecture, thinking I had my life together, and then boom you showed up, beautiful and fearless. I swear my heart stopped for a second.”

Nanette smirked, tilting her head up to look at him. “Be honest, was I the first woman to ask for your number like that?”

“The first and only,” he replied without hesitation. “And thank God you did, or I might never have worked up the courage to talk to you.”

She grinned, leaning in to kiss him. Their lips met in a slow, lingering kiss, the kind that spoke of years of love and intimacy. Valdi's hand slid up her back, pulling her closer. The kiss deepened, their bodies pressing together, heat rising between them.

Breaking apart just enough to catch her breath, Nanette gazed into his eyes. “Take me inside,” she whispered.

Valdi didn’t need to be told twice. With an easy strength, he lifted her into his arms, carrying her bridal style through the sliding door. His lips never left her skin, trailing from her cheek to her jaw, down the curve of her neck. The bedroom door swung open with a nudge of his foot, and he laid her down gently, his eyes dark with desire.

As their passion grew, Valdi suddenly paused, reaching for the nightstand drawer. Nanette frowned in confusion. “Why did you stop?” she asked, her voice husky.

He held up a condom, his fingers fumbling with the wrapper. “I need to put this on first. We’re not ready for Viona to have a little sibling just yet.”

Nanette raised an eyebrow, then burst into laughter. “You already put one on before we even got in bed. Are you seriously about to double up?”

Valdi froze. Then his eyes widened in horror. “Wait… I did?”

She nodded, still giggling. “Are you feeling okay? First, you forget your ATM PIN this morning, and now this? What’s going on with you?”

Valdi tossed the unused condom aside and pulled her back into his arms, pushing his worries to the back of his mind. He kissed her deeply, losing himself in her warmth, in the love they shared. The world outside faded away as their bodies moved in perfect harmony, their hearts beating as one.

Later, as Nanette lay curled against his chest, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his skin, Valdi exhaled a heavy sigh. He couldn’t shake the unease creeping into his thoughts. Forgetfulness wasn’t normal for him, especially not in moments like these.

Nanette tilted her head to look up at him. “Something’s on your mind.”

He hesitated before answering. “It’s nothing, really.”

“Liar,” she teased, poking his side. “Tell me.”

Valdi let out another sigh. “It’s just… I’ve been forgetting things today. Not just little things. Big things. Important things.”

Nanette sat up slightly, concern flickering in her eyes. “Like what?”

“This morning, I couldn’t remember my ATM PIN. And just now… I completely forgot I was already wearing protection.” He ran a hand through his hair, frustration seeping into his voice. “What if it’s something serious?”

Nanette cupped his face gently. “Hey, don’t overthink it. Maybe you’re just tired. You’ve been working so hard lately.”

“Maybe,” he murmured, though doubt gnawed at him.

Nanette pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “If you’re really worried, why don’t you see Lucas? He’s your best friend and a neurologist. I’m sure he’ll tell you it’s nothing.”

Valdi nodded. “Yeah, I’ll give him a call tomorrow.”

Nanette snuggled back against his chest, her breath evening out as she drifted to sleep. But Valdi lay awake, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing.

Please, God. Let me be okay. I can't leave them. I can't leave the two people I love most in this world.

Sleep didn’t come easily that night. Instead, worry wrapped around him like a shadow, refusing to let go. Every time he closed his eyes, an unsettling thought crept in , what if this was more than just exhaustion? What if something was really wrong? His heart pounded in his chest, his pulse unsteady. He hated the feeling of helplessness, the fear of the unknown.

Valdi turned his head slightly, watching Nanette's peaceful face in the dim light. She looked so serene, lost in the depths of sleep, completely unaware of the storm raging inside him. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. He wanted to stay like this forever, to hold her close and never let go. But the fear clawing at him wouldn't fade.

As the hours dragged on, his mind wandered to worst-case scenarios. He imagined sitting in a doctor's office, hearing a diagnosis that would shatter their world. He saw himself growing weaker, unable to be the husband and father he wanted to be. The thought sent a shiver down his spine.

No. Stop. Don't think like that. He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to breathe deeply, to calm the storm within him.

Tomorrow, he would call Lucas. He would get answers. And hopefully, they would be the answers he desperately needed to hear.

But until then, he would hold onto Nanette a little tighter, as if afraid that if he let go, the world as he knew it might slip away forever.