Abbie's Asturian doctor, Fliz Valdés, a legal immigrant to the United States, gently displayed a medical needle. His eyes held a reassuring and caring expression as he spoke to Abbie, who was carrying a precious life within her.
"A pregnant woman like yourself," Fliz began in a soothing tone, "should exercise caution when it comes to what enters your body, as it directly affects your baby. Inadequate nutrition for the mother can lead to the baby's body adapting in ways that might pose risks for the little one." His demeanor exuded warmth and concern, mirrored by the caring smile on his face.
Tony, attentive and eager to support Abbie, interjected, "What kinds of foods should we be eating, then?"
Fliz responded with a smile that radiated positivity, "Steer clear of sugary and processed foods, opt for fresh fruits and vegetables instead. It's crucial, especially since some children, even outside the womb, struggle with such foods."
Abbie, her expression reflecting a mix of curiosity and concern, inquired, "So, no honey during pregnancy?" Her eyes held a hint of vulnerability, mirroring the emotions she felt.
🌑
Fliz reassured Abbie, saying, "Yes, it's perfectly safe to enjoy honey during pregnancy. While it's not recommended for babies under a year old due to the rare risk of a bacterial illness called botulism, eating honey during your pregnancy won't harm you or your unborn child. Your mature stomach can handle the bacteria that might affect infants." He conveyed this information with a reassuring tone that put Abbie's concerns at ease, and she felt a sense of warmth.
Abbie nodded in understanding. Later, at home, she reclined in her bunk bed, savoring a spoonful of crushed strawberries, also known as strawberry jam.
However, as Abbie sat up, a sudden wave of nausea washed over her. She thought, "I feel sick," before vomiting and regurgitating the strawberry jam she had just eaten. Alone at home, while Tony was at work, delivering pizza, sandwiches, and even tacos to customers, Abbie took it upon herself to clean up the mess she had made. After completing the task, she headed to the bathroom, where she vomited once more into the toilet.
🌑
After devouring her sweet potatoes and avocados, which she believed were essential for the baby's health, Abbie made another trip to the bathroom, marking the 15th time she had visited it in the past 24 hours. Following her bathroom break, she prepared herself a vegetable-filled taco with lettuce and beans.
As Abbie savored her meal, she couldn't help but experience intense cravings for a wide array of foods, from pizza and sandwiches to pie, bread, nuts, burritos, cupcakes, cake, candy, chocolate, donuts, cookies, popcorn, noodles, rice dishes, ice cream, falafel, various stews, seafood, sushi, french fries, and more. Abbie attempted to order takeout to satisfy her cravings, but her phone had run out of battery.
Frustrated, she inspected her charger cord, only to discover that it was broken beyond repair. No matter how she positioned it, it refused to charge her phone due to an internal breakage. Determined to make the most of the situation, Abbie decided to indulge in all the fruits she had in her home until she felt completely stuffed.
After digesting her fruity feast, Abbie made her way to the bathroom once more. Just as she settled in, she heard a knock on her door.
🌑
Abbie made her way to the door, her pregnancy showing as she gently opened it, revealing her round belly. She expressed, "I think I need some time alone."
Standing at the door was Ruby, a neighbor who shared their apartment complex. Ruby's appearance was striking, characterized by her ebony complexion and unique facial features, influenced by her mixed heritage, which included South Korean ancestry.
Ruby inquired, "Is your husband Tony at home?" Abbie clarified, "You mean Tony? He's my husband, but he's at work." Ruby, with a thoughtful expression, advised, "You should consider getting your own job and a separate bank account, just as a precaution."
Abbie nodded in acknowledgment as Ruby took the initiative to close Abbie's door gently, leaving her to her thoughts in the privacy of her own home.
🌑
Abbie, still a teenager and not yet aware of some of the financial risks in relationships, couldn't help but wonder, "Um... Why?" She had yet to learn that some men might take all the money and leave their partner with nothing.
Expressing her feelings, pregnant Abbie responded, "That was really rude," unaware that the woman, Ruby, had actually given her valuable advice – the importance of having her own bank account to prevent financial exploitation and ensure that her money remained secure. Abbie realized the significance of not allowing anyone to access her funds without her consent.
Later, when Tony returned home, Abbie experienced a false alarm contraction, adding to the mix of emotions and challenges that came with her pregnancy. Tony called 911, but the contractions died soon after...
🌑
Tony sat by Abbie's side, providing her comfort and support as they made their way to the hospital. However, their experience took an unpleasant turn when they encountered two white nurses who mocked Abbie's accent and criticized her for being pregnant at such a young age. To make matters worse, they unjustly placed the blame on Abbie, while absolving Tony of any responsibility.
One of the nurses, Alex, a 32-year-old male, callously remarked, "You're the girl, you should have said no. He's a man, it's what they do." His words reflected a misguided perception of gender roles and unfairly shifted the blame onto Abbie.
The other nurse, Tom, echoed this sentiment, asserting, "He can sleep with whoever he wants because he's a man, not a little boy. You should have told him no!" Tom's words reinforced the unjust criticism and disregard for Abbie's feelings and rights in the situation.
🌑
Abbie retorted, her voice filled with frustration, "If he's supposed to be able to do whatever he wants, why do I have to be the one to say 'no'? I understand that I should have spoken up, but it's just that... Why isn't he the one making the first move if that's how it's supposed to work? If everyone knows this is something I shouldn't engage in, why is he allowed to tempt me into it, and why should he even be allowed to do it when I'm expected to be the one to say 'no' because he shouldn't do it in the first place? Why does he get a pass to do it when it's something he shouldn't be doing?"
🌑
Abbie continued to express her frustration, saying, "The advice you give us creates a contradiction in our cultural norms. You encourage boys to pursue sex, while simultaneously advising us girls not to engage in it. Then, when boys struggle to get what you've told us to deny them, you criticize them for not being able to persuade us to change our minds. On the other hand, you also criticize us when we do say 'yes.' It's like you reward him for breaking down our resistance, portraying it as playing 'hard to get.' Essentially, you want us to say 'no,' but you also want him to overcome our barriers so that he can get what we're supposed to be guarding against."
🌑
Tony says "Stop telling boys to sleep around if you don't want girls to do it, Because Who else would you have us sleep with? Other dudes? If we become gay, you beat us up. You pressure us into sex, think we should have it, and if we get raped, you make fun of us for it and mock us by saying you'd 'congratulate' us. How are you gonna make fun of us for something that wasn't our fault?"
🌑
Tom, a 23-year-old nurse, couldn't help but chuckle as he turned to Tony and asked, "Are you gay?" Tony, feeling uncomfortable with the situation, firmly replied, "No, but I won't tolerate any disrespect towards my wife." Tom, not backing down, shifted his gaze to Abbie and muttered, "You always get the nice guys, don't you, sweetheart? He's such a nice little black simp." Tony's patience reached its limit, and he pushed Tom up against the wall, warning him, "You better not call me that again!"
Disturbed by the escalating tension, Abbie decided to step out of the room and call for help. She located a female nurse and her doctor, informing them of the unsettling incident. The medical staff promptly intervened, removing Tom and Alex from the room to address their unprofessional behavior and ensure the comfort and safety of the patients.
👏🏻😀
After it was confirmed that Abbie wasn't in labor, Tony left the hospital and began the journey back home. During the ride, he found himself overcome by tears, clearly haunted by a painful past experience. It wasn't what others might have assumed, and he tried his best to conceal his emotions.
Concerned by Tony's distress, Abbie couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?" Tony, trying to downplay the situation, responded with a dismissive, "It's nothing." However, once he was alone at home, his emotions overwhelmed him, and he began crying profusely in private. Abbie, who could hear his sobs, felt a surge of empathy, driven by her own hormonal fluctuations.
In an attempt to help him, Abbie knocked on his door and gently inquired, "What's wrong?" As Tony sobbed, he finally emerged from his room, and Abbie, maintaining her supportive stance, asked, "What is it?" Tony, battling his own emotions, remained silent deliberately, fearful that sharing the details of his past trauma might lead to judgment and misunderstanding.
🌑
The following day, Tony headed to work, only to be confronted by Abbie's parents. Her mother approached him with a polite demeanor and asked, "Hi, can I see Abbie?" Tony was taken aback by their audacity. "How could you have the audacity to come back? What do you want with my wife?" Tony retorted. Abbie's mother, Rudy, feigned affection, replying with a false smile, "Oh, nothing. We love her." Tony decided to leave them and attend to other customers, refusing to engage further.
The weeks that followed were incredibly challenging for Abbie. She became the target of harassment, followed by men affiliated with the KKK to her home, where she endured physical assaults and even had her house set on fire, which was a disaster since she now lives in an apartment complex, so all the homes were on fire and people had to be evacuated, including white people.
In desperation, Abbie sought refuge with Tony's parents, moving into their home. However, this living arrangement proved to be short-lived, as his parents ultimately asked her to leave. They vehemently disapproved of the interracial relationship and the impending baby, leading to escalating tension.
With nowhere else to turn, her boyfriend relocated her to a tent in the woods, where they struggled to make ends meet. It was in this dire situation that she received an unexpected phone call, from her own parents. Surprisingly, it seemed that they had come to terms with the situation, with her father offering her the possibility of a permanent stay in their household.
To be continued...