It's been a month now and Patrick hasn't come for his money. I have been living in fear because I don't know when he'll show up demanding for his money. I haven't been able to raise the complete money yet. I'm jumping at the slightest sound, looking over my shoulder at every opportunity. The thought of him popping out at any moment clouding my sense of reasoning. The anxiety is making me sick, I can't seem to sleep properly or even stomach my food. My mum has been pretty worried but I try to shut down her concern. I try as much as I can to act normal around her in order to ease her worries.
I'm trying to edit some pictures in the studio but I cannot seem to concentrate, so I decide to take a stroll to feel a little bit at ease. The stroll doesn't seem to be working. I seem to be spinning, My eyes can't focus on a spot. Nothing prepares me for the impact of the floor as I hit it with force and immediately black out.
I don't know what's going on but I can feel that my body has been placed on a bed not the soft kind, I can also hear voices of people I don't recognize, the air is cool on my skin. "I hope I am not dead. I can't leave now, who's going to take care of mum" . My mind has become a raging storm " I can't be dead". I try to open my eyes and they flutter open slowly. The light is bright, my eyes adjust to the brightness and my eyes scan the room. It's coloured white with blue dividers separating me from others. I immediately recognize it as the hospital. "Thank God '' I say internally.
My eyes land on Rosie as she walks in, she seems relieved to see me "you gave me a scare you know, how are you feeling" she says. "Water" I tell her, because my throat feels patchy, like a desert. She hands me a bottle from her bag and assists me so I can drink.
"What happened?, I was walking and the next thing the world seemed to be spinning and I found myself here". I say.
"Well you fainted, the doctor said it was due to lack of food and dehydration. So… yeah. Oh he's here".
"Ah miss Walter" the doctor smiles. "How are you feeling now"
"I guess I'm okay now". I answer his question
"Okay, that's good, you need to take care of yourself more, since you're pregnant" he says
"What?" Rosie and I exclaimed in unison.
"Well, you're five weeks pregnant, we ran a blood test on you while we were trying to figure out why you lost consciousness and it turns out you're pregnant. Congratulations to you. Since you are doing okay you can leave but I have prescribed some drugs for you to help you and the baby. And I'll advise you to register for antenatal before leaving so you and the baby can be better taken care of" with that said he hands over the prescription to me. I stretch forth my shaky hands to accept them.
There is a long silence. The air is so thick that you could slice it with a knife. Neither me nor Rosie uttered a word, we just stared at each other with no expression. I finally broke the dreaded silence with a sob. She immediately rushed towards me and gave me a hug as I crumbled in her embrace. My tears stain her dress but she says nothing, she just holds me in place as I continue to stain her blue dress with my tears.
"What am I going to do?What will I tell mum?How can I even raise a child in this state?", I cried.
"We'll figure it out, don't worry, everything will be fine". Rosie comforts me.
"I don't think you understand Rosie, I slept with a total stranger. It was a one night stand. I was never meant to get pregnant. Things were never meant to turn out like this!. I shouldn't be here, I shouldn't be pregnant. My tears continue to pour.
"Maybe I shouldn't keep it. What am I even saying, I can't kill another person". I cry to Rosie again.
"Relax Denise, it's not a person yet. We have time to figure things out and then come to a conclusion. Let's not make any sudden decisions yet. And please don't let your mum know yet. Okay?, Everything will be fine". Rosie concludes.
We stay like that for a few more minutes before we eventually decide to go home.
******************
It's been days since I was told that I was pregnant. I haven't found a solution yet but I know for a certain I am not going to destroy the little creature in me. If I've been able to take care of mum then I'll surely be able to do this. I also need to pay Patrick his money fast, I wouldn't want him to hurt my baby. And no, I won't be informing the father because I hate him. He is just a user and a deceiver, I wouldn't want my child to grow up with that. I am going to register for antenatal care today.
The registration didn't take too long, and I was advised to run some tests. They carried out tests for infectious disease, full blood count, blood group and antibody screening, Vitamin D level and Urine culture test. The gynaecologist informed me that several other tests would be carried out as the pregnancy progresses. He also advised me to avoid sex as much as possible in this first trimester of pregnancy since it might lead to other complications seeing as I am nauseous. I laugh in my mind because Heaven knows I won't be having sex again, after what happened to me after the last time, nah… I think I'll pass. He calls my name to bring my attention back to him. " Are you okay Miss Walter?" He questions.
"Yes, I am fine doctor, you can continue".
He hands me a slip "this slip will help you to understand what you should expect, it goes further to explain other things. If you have any question you can ask, and if you need further clarification on anything I'll be open to do that on your next appointment" he says finally.
I thank him and find my way out of his office. The whole process was okay and the Doctor was nice even the nurses. I leave the hospital feeling at ease with myself knowing I made the right decision to keep the baby.
Now I have to figure out a way to tell mum that I'm expecting a baby without a father. My hands go over my head unconsciously at my thought. I close my eyes and shake my head to bring me back to reality. At my action I hit something solid, and butt hits the ground, the things in my hands are not spared either as they fly out of my hands. "Ouch" I cry out at the impact of my butt to the ground. A hand quickly tries to assist me up.
"I apologise," The person says.
I would recognize that voice, I would even recognize the voice even in my sleep. I raise my head and it's him. Gregory.
I detach myself from his hold like he burnt my skin. I quickly scan the floor for the slip the doctor gave me but it isn't there.
"Here you go miss," a guy I presume to be his body guard says.
I quickly grab it away from him like a prized possession. Gregory's eyes scan it as fast too and he returns his eyes back to mine. His face is expressionless throughout the encounter. I quickly thank the guard and take my leave.