Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“Thanks, Mom,” I reply, giving her another hug, before being ushered out of the bar and escorted to my car.
“I’ll text you in the morning,” Gabby says, full of concern.
“I’ll be fine, but thank you,” I reply quickly before climbing into my car. As I crank over the engine, I throw her a wave, plaster on a fake smile, and back out of my parking spot.
My mind is a mess of nerves and excitement as I drive toward the nearest drug store. Could I really be pregnant? The symptoms match up. Nausea, tired, and tender boobs. Plus, I missed my period this month, but I just chalked that up to the stress. It’s not like my monthly cycle has been normal since the separation. In fact, since I stopped taking my birth control several months back, my period has been all over the place. It’s not like I had a reason to stay on the pill, anyway.
I pull up to a stoplight, my hands trembling with nerves. I release the steering wheel and try to shake them out a little, my fingers feeling a bit cold. The light changes to green, and I slowly start to pull into the intersection. I see the flash of light only moments before the horn sounds. There’s nothing I can do, not even brace for impact. My vehicle jars hard as the other car makes impact, the seat belt pulling against my body and holding me in place. The airbag deploys with a loud bang as everything around me starts to fade away. It’s like I’m floating, all the sounds of crunching metal, shattering glass, and horns honking vanishing. There’s no sound. Even as I glance over and see a face full of fear in my driver’s side window. His mouth is moving, but there’s no sound.
My eyelids become heavy and the desire to sleep takes over.
The baby.
My hands drop to my still-flat stomach, and I send up a silent plea to God, his angels, and anyone else up there who’ll listen. Please don’t take away my baby. Please keep her safe.
And then my mind drifts to Harrison.
To the man I love.
To the one who’s going to be a father and doesn’t even know it yet.
My world fades to black.
My eyes open just as I’m rushed through sliding doors. A man stands on one side and a woman on the other as I’m guided into what appears to be the emergency room. “What have we got?” I hear a man ask just before his face comes into focus.
I listen as the paramedic reports to the doctor about the car accident, my vitals, which are strong, and a slight bump on the side of my head. The doctor orders a CT scan to check for bleeding on the brain, and that’s when the panic sets in. “I’m pregnant,” I state, causing everyone around me to stop and glance down.
The doctor gives me a smile. “Okay. How far along are you?”
“Just a few weeks. Well, I think I’m pregnant. I was on my way to the store to get a test.”
“Well, start with a pregnancy test then,” he says with another polite smile. “Just hang tight, okay?” he adds, grabbing my hand and giving it a squeeze. That small gesture goes a long way to help settle my fears, even though I’m terrified right now.
Everything after that happens quickly. I’m taken to a room and stripped down to a gown, where my blood is drawn and a few small wounds are tended to. The nurse is very pleasant as she applies an ointment to the burn on my arm caused by the airbag and puts on bandages.
“Well, Mrs. Drake, you’re very lucky. They say your car was impacted at the driver’s side front tire and not the door. You have a few superficial burns and lacerations from the airbag, and a mild concussion from the bump to the head, but no other signs or symptoms of anything more severe,” he says, reading from my chart. “Oh, and your blood test came back positive. Congratulations, you’re pregnant.”
You’re pregnant.
Those two words have the biggest impact on me, changing the course of my future forever. A baby. I’m having a baby.
“We do want to take a look at the baby, however. You have a bit of spotting, but that can be completely normal. There’s an ultrasound technician outside, who’ll come in and take a look at the baby. Hang tight, and she’ll be right in. Once that’s complete, we’ll take you to a room for observation. Between the bump to the head and the spotting, I’d like to keep you for the night and make sure everything is okay,” he says, turning to leave.
“Thank you,” I reply in disbelief and fear.
“Oh, and the nurse called the emergency contact in your phone. He’s on his way.”