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“Anya.” I hate it when Gianna calls my name so quietly; it always signals trouble. “You used a condom, didn’t you?”
“We did.” Though I’m a little worried that my period is about seven days late, but that happens whenever I’m stressed out too.
Mr. Moore walks in, his blue eyes gleaming as he glances at the puppy I’m holding.
“I’ll call you back, Gigi.” I hang up and toss my phone in the pocket of my lab coat.
Mr. Moore wears a pair of gloves and takes the puppy from me. “He’s so cute,” he says, looking at the pup as if it’s the most adorable thing he’s ever seen. “Have you thought of a name for it yet?’’
“Nope.” I smirk, already thinking of the perfect name for him. “How about Brandon?”
Mr. Moore arches an eyebrow skeptically. “Brandon? Sounds a bit too human, don't you think?”
“Nah, it's perfect!” I exclaim, pointing dramatically at the pup's adorable face. “Just imagine him running around with all the other pups in the park and hearing someone call out 'Brandon'...it just fits!”
Mr. Moore hesitates, unsure about naming the puppy the name I suggested, but eventually gives in with a laugh. “Alright, alright. You win. Brandon it is.” He scribbles down the name on the adoption papers. “I'll be sending this little guy off to Mr. White. His friend’s granddaughter has been begging for a puppy .”
I am chuffed. I wish Brandon was here to see his namesake. It would be a fun meeting. I giggle as I imagine how upset it would make him. “Good. I’ll raise him for two or three months, then she can have it.”
Mr. Moore nods. “By the way, Anya. Is everything okay with you? You’ve been looking a little pale lately.”
I want to tell him it’s mostly his fault I look pale. I’d be getting a good night’s sleep if he didn’t wake me up so early every morning, but I hold back. I can’t get on his bad side when I’m so close to the finish line. “I’ve been a little sick lately. I’ll go see a doctor if I have time today.”
“Oh, you can have the rest of the day, Anya,” he says to my surprise. “Your hard work has been greatly appreciated around here." His words fill me with warmth and gratitude as I realize my efforts have not gone unnoticed. With a grateful nod, I thank him for the unexpected break. The sunlight streaming through the windows seems to brighten even more as I make my way out of the office.
Surprisingly, I find the smell of moringa comforting considering the smell of everything else makes me retch.
As the last drops of tea slide down my throat, I can feel their warmth spreading through my body. I relish in the comforting sensation before bracing myself for a cold shower. The icy water hits my skin like tiny needles, awakening me from my drowsiness. My hair clings to my face and neck as I quickly dry off and slip into the most comfortable clothes I own: a pair of loose, gray sweatpants and an oversized white shirt that envelopes me like a hug. I grab a tote bag and carefully place a few essential items inside before stepping out into the bustling city streets. The sun shines brightly, casting warm rays on my skin and filling me with energy.
I’d take a taxi, but I still need a few thousand steps to meet my daily goal. I’m passing by a pharmacy when the creeping thought of being pregnant makes my stomach summersault.
I stop walking and stare at the glass doors. If I walk in there, I can get a pregnancy test and rid myself of this worry. But deep down, I know what the result might turn out to be.
I tighten my grip on my tote bag and briskly walk over to the drug store. My legs wobble slightly as I purchase a few strips and make my way back to my apartment. I drop my bag onto the floor, kick off my shoes, and drag myself to the bathroom. After three minutes pass, I nervously intertwine my fingers and feel beads of sweat form on my forehead as I wait for the result.
My heart is pounding so hard, I think it might burst. I flip the pregnancy test strip over and see two distinct red lines. My body instantly goes cold as reality sinks in. This can't be happening. I take out another strip and repeat the test, but the result is the same - two unmistakable red lines. By the third test, I collapse to the bathroom floor in acceptance of the truth - I am pregnant.
I’m pregnant by a man I barely know. By a man who left me right after we had sex. I don’t even know his last name and I don’t have his freaking number.
Tears blur my vision, and I can't stop trembling as I stare at the positive test strips. Part of me wants to believe it's all just a cruel joke, but deep down, I know it's not. The missed period and morning sickness are already clear signs. Running my hands through my hair, I force myself to push back the tears. Now is not the time to cry; I need to come up with a plan to get out of this situation quickly.
An hour passes, and I’ve come up with absolutely no idea how to handle it. I’m still in my final year and I’m only twenty-three.
Fuck.
The tiles of my bathroom floor are getting colder by the minute. It’s seeping into my veins and making me want to vomit.
I shoot up to my feet and scurry to the living room where I left my tote bag. I find my phone and call the only person I can confide in. Gianna won’t judge me. She’s never done that and I’ve been closer to her than anyone else.
She answers on the first ring as if she’s been expecting my call. She greets me with a cheerful "Hey, cuz." However, I know her mood will change when I tell her the news. "Did you end up going to the doctor? Are you feeling any better?" she asks.
I feel a tightness in my chest. "Gianna..." I can only imagine how she'll react when I tell her. She must have picked up on the seriousness in my voice because she asks, "Is everything alright?"
I shake my head, as if she’s standing right in front of me. “No,” I say quietly. I swallow to push down the lump in my throat. “I’m not okay.”
“If you sound like that, then I guess it’s pretty serious.” She huffs out a worried sigh. “Tell me. Are you pregnant?”
Pregnant. My pulse rate doubles at the word. “Yes.”
