ANASTASIA


    I finished shopping quitete. There were a lot of things that I needed to get and the time I was supposed to have used to get some of them, my ex colleagues had sessfully helped me to squander it.


    I wheeled my cart to the checkout counter and joined the line.


    Few minutester, it was my turn. I watched as the cashier efficiently scanned the barcode on each item. Then he read out the total cost for my purchases with a smile.


    I handed him my card and he did a swift job of swiping it across the machine. He handed me my card, packed up my things and handed it to me.


    "Thank you," I told him as I turned around and left.


    Half an hourter, I was unlocking the front door to the house.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    I hauled everything into the kitchen and began to sort them out. Once in a while, I''d remember the incident at the supermarket and wonder, for the umpteenth time, how they knew all about that. Even if we were in touch all these time, those things they knew were details I''d never share with a mere coworker.


    As I turned the grains of rice into its container, my phone rang out from the living room. I quickly turned the rice, ced the container where it should be and hurried out of the kitchen to get my phone.


    "Hey," I breathed out as I made my way back to the kitchen.


    "Hey, Anastasia," his deep voice filled the speakers.


    "Hey, Aiden," I repeated, cramming my phone between my shoulder des and my cheek as I picked up the empty crate of egg and began to carefully arrange the eggs I got in it. "What''s up?" More like, why''d you call?


    He cleared his throat. "I called to inform you that I''d be visiting Amie at the hospital today." Then he added, "I''ve got some free time."


    "Okay," I drawled as I stopped what I was doing and thought about what he said. He didn''t outrightly ask but I knew he was, in some way, asking for my permission. I wondered if he would stay back if I asked him to. He probably would because I know he wanted peace but it would be unfair. Afterall, it''s his kid. He has every right to see her. I''ve done enough hiding her away from him and vice versa.


    "Anastasia?"


    I was pulled back to the phone call. "Of course." I shrugged. "He''s your daughter after all."


    There was a short silence. Then, "Alright."


    "Wait!" I blurted multiple times when he was about to end the call. "I want to ask you about something."


    Another silence. "Go ahead."


    "Okay, so short story. Earlier, I was at


    the store. And I ran into my


    colleagues from when I was in yourpany. We exchanged


    pleasantries and they were like very excited to see me," I rolled my eyes as I said that part. "Then we asked one another about life and work and then one of them asked about my husband." I paused. "That was out of the point but it''s understandable, a wedding happened, right? Then the shocking part was when they asked me how Amie was doing and if her chemotherapies were going well and all?" I took another pause.


    "I''m still here," he said gently.


    "Okay, so, that was when they asked about my baby. Like, they were like, ''how''s your son in the NICU?'' and ''how''s preparation to have him back home?"" "Woah," Aiden muttered.


    "I know, right? I was rendered speechless."


    "That''s a lot. How did they know all of that? Especially the deets about the baby? Did you tell them?"


    "No, I did not. That''s exactly why I''m telling you this," I said, dropping the pack of tissue paper on the counter. Then I leaned against it and focused on our conversation. "It was really unnerving." "Downright creepy. Or have you been in contact with them all these while? Maybe on W******p and you just hinted at it in a group or with a status update?"


    "No. That''s the thing. I lost contact with most of my ex colleagues when I left. And I did not post anything about what''s happening in my life right now. I barely even post."


    "Then how?" He murmured, but I suspected that it was to himself.


    "I don''t know either. I suspect that the hospital staff are unknowingly sharing news. You know, maybe ament here and there to a


    neighbor about what went on at


    work


    and all. Because I don''t see any


    other exnation for how these people know what they shouldn''t."


    "Yeah," Aiden said. "Don''t worry, I''ll look into it and see what''s really happening."


    "Okay, thank you." Then it ured to me to ask, "Or did you," I lifted my shoulder in a half shrug, "did you, maybe, like, did you mention it to anyone, a friend?"


    "Of course, I didn''t," his response came back immediately, calm and sure.


    "Sharon is the only other person who knows about these things," he added. "I''d ask her and see if she told anyone about it. Though, I doubt it. Sharon isn''t really the type."


    "Alright then. Thank you." I thought


    about asking about how their baby was doing but I immediately decided against it. "I''d really appreciate Because I don''t like that lots of people that I barely interact with


    Kn


    know things about me."


    "It''s okay. I understand. I''m sure, we''ll get to who''s spreading the news soon," he assured me.


    "Thank you," I muttered again, and a few secondster, the line went dead.


    As I ced my phone on the counter, I stood there for a while and just stared into the air, still wondering how they knew about it. Dennis was too busying to terms with all the development to post on social media. Eventually, I returned to sort out the items I bought. As I did, I made a mental note to talk to Dennis about it. I just hope he didn''t randomly mention it to anyone.


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