Something inside me cracked. I didn’t even say goodbye—I just hung up, pressed my hand against my belly, and whispered, “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m trying, I promise.”

She kicked hard, as if urging me not to give up. But I needed air—just one breath that didn’t taste like fear. I stepped outside, squinting in the harsh sunlight as I picked up my mail.

That’s when I noticed Mrs. Higgins next door. She was 82, her hair always neatly pinned, usually sitting on her porch doing crosswords. But today, she was out on the lawn, bent over an old mower, pushing with both hands.

The grass nearly swallowed her legs.

She looked up when she heard me, wiped sweat from her forehead, and managed a shaky smile.

“Morning, Ariel. Beautiful day for a little yard work, isn’t it?”

Her voice was light, but I could see the strain. The mower jolted over a hidden clump and stalled with a groan.

I hesitated. The sun was scorching, my back ached, and the last thing I wanted was to be anyone’s hero.

A hundred thoughts rushed through my mind—my swollen ankles, the unpaid bills in my hands, every way I’d failed. For a split second, I almost went back inside.

But Mrs. Higgins was blinking rapidly, struggling to breathe.

“Do you want me to grab you some water?” I called, already stepping closer.

She waved me off, pride woven into every wrinkle. “Oh, no, I’m fine. Just need to finish this before the HOA makes their rounds. You know how they are.”

I gave a small laugh. “Don’t remind me.”

She smiled, but didn’t loosen her grip on the mower.

“Seriously, let me help,” I said, moving closer. “You shouldn’t be out here in this heat.”

She frowned. “It’s too much for you, dear. You should be resting, not mowing lawns for old ladies.”

I shrugged. “Resting is overrated. Besides, I need the distraction.”

“Trouble at home?”

I paused, then shook my head, forcing a smile. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

I reached for the mower. This time, she let go, sinking onto the porch steps with a grateful sigh.

“Thank you, Ariel. You’re a lifesaver.”

I started the mower. My shoes sank into the grass, and I felt dizzy, nauseous—but I kept going.

Every now and then, I caught Mrs. Higgins watching me, a thoughtful, almost knowing look in her eyes.

Halfway through, my breath hitched. I stopped, leaned against the handle, and wiped my face. She shuffled over with a glass of lemonade, cold and dripping in the heat.

“Sit,” she insisted. “You’ll make yourself sick.”

I sat on her porch, drinking deeply, my pulse racing. She sat beside me, silent, gently patting my knee.

After a moment, she asked, “How much longer for you?”