Aleksander Petrov
2611 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
Alek,
I miss you so much, I miss everything about you. I miss your cocky smirk, your terrible singing; you're your poorly-timed pregnancy jokes. You keep me strong. I remember the exact shade of your eyes, that deep chocolate brown. I hope James has your eyes. I hope he has your soul too, brave, strong, and fiercely devoted.
At 24 weeks along, I'm definitely getting bigger. People here look at me funny; I can hear every single snide whisper of the nurses that come into my shop. I work at Kat's Korner, a medical apparel and supply store. It's only a quick walk from my apartment, and it's across the street from the hospital.
Rose, the leader of the Mai here, works as a nurse at Morehead Memorial Hospital down the street. She's an amazing woman, I think I will always consider her to be my 'Aunt Rosie' even after it's safe for me to come back home. My 'Aunt' Rose and 'Uncle' Daniel have a daughter, Caitlin.
I'm learning how to use American Sign Language, because everyone in their house does. Rose was tortured by The Order when she was sixteen years-old. She lost her hearing and is completely deaf. Her Mai hearing never developed, but she has discovered a bunch of tricks to get around it. She can sense vibrations of footsteps on the floor, and can even sense the vibrations of someone's voice if you're in the room talking. I'm sure Valentina would be happy to know that being in hiding, and pregnant, doesn't stop me from training.
I keep to myself mostly, but I have managed to make a few friends. 'Cousin' Caitlin has taken a liking to me. She sees me as 'the cool older sister that she never had' but she's a junior in high school like me and you. Well, not me I guess, since I'm not in school right now. Caitlin is teaching me Sign Language, and how to knit. I've been knitting all sorts of baby clothes. Socks, shoes, hats, even little sweaters and vests! I know you would have a tantrum if I ever put Jamie in a sweater-vest. Or would that be 'jumper-vest?'
Not that you can't already tell, but I have a lot of free time these days. I only work in the afternoons on weekdays, so I can pretty much do anything I want. I met this guy at the YMCA, no not what you think, he likes men. He hasn't coming out of the closet yet, but I may have accidentally overheard a conversation he was having with his boyfriend. Aside from Caitlin, Dallas is the only other friend I have that's my age. I'm friends with all the cute old ladies that work at the hospital; they seem to swoon over my bulging stomach.
Dallas is a nurse too, in the pediatrics' department. He's human and too annoying for his own good, so I'm pretty sure you would hate him. He flirts with anything that moves. He wouldn't stop caressing my tummy when we first met. His boyfriend is really sweet about it. Dallas is only flirty so that no one will suspect him. I mean, if a cute guy complements your new shoes, you don't really question why he knows what this season's latest by Rupert Sanderson looks like.
Dallas and Caitlin are the only people I can really talk to. Though, it feels weird to be giving relationship advice to Caitlin when, just a year ago, I was standing in her shoes. Metaphorically, of course. I can't wait to get back home. I realized that I miss being a kid. Being Mai, and pregnant, you would think that have felt like an adult months ago. It wasn't until I had a seventeen year-old girl asking me if she should dump her boyfriend or not, that the reality really set in.
Will I be the same person when I have James? Will I go all hard-ass, like Val is to Jasmine? How much 'growing up' will I have to do? How will you change when the baby's here? I know you will be a great dad, but will I be a good mom?
Wish I had the answers,
Wish you were here,
Chloe.
Clover Hunt
407 S Van Buren Rd. apt 5C
Eden, NC 27288