Umeko’s eyes closed while she drifted off to sleep. A few weeks later she was confirmed to be pregnant. News of Umeko’s pregnancy spread like wildfire, some congratulated her, others already begun to ostracize, ridicule, or gossip about her. As the weeks progressed Umeko’s stomach got bigger and rounder by the second trimester, Umeko’s stomach looked like a melon.
One sunny afternoon she was sitting in her room, applying some aloe vera on her belly then getting up slowly, to ensure she didn’t hit her stomach on anything. Hitomi walked in with a faint smile “Everyone is waiting for you”
Umeko nodded then closed her kimono up and walked out with Hitomi, making her way to the stairs which led to the entrance of the brothel.