Page 91 of Hating the Boss

I tore my eyes away from him, reminding myself that all this was partly his fault.

Brittany pulled herself from the sidewalk and rushed toward me, throwing her arms around me. Her reddened face was soaked with tears as she looked me over.

“Oh, my God, Sarah,” she said breathlessly. “Are you okay?”

“I-I don’t know…” I stammered. “Are you?”

I looked over her face that was surely going to bruise, an angry red mark from Angela’s knuckles staring back at me. I felt horrible that my best friend was hurt and it was all because she was trying to protect me. I started to cry, as I ran my fingers gently over her cheek.

“I’m fine,” she said, wincing slightly.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered.

“For what?” Brittany laughed softly. “You couldn’t have predicted a psychopath was going to come after you.”

I shook my head and laughed through my tears. If anyone could make light of an insane situation like this, it would be Brittany. I was thankful my sister wasn’t here to witness this, or become victim to Angela’s scary attack.

The siren of an ambulance rang out, growing louder as it grew closer. It rang in my ears as Brittany and I leaned against my apartment building, clutching each other. Red flashing lights washed over us as it pulled up to the curb and two EMTs hopped out of the back doors.

“Make room. Please, make room,” they shouted as they pushed through the crowd that had formed to watch the commotion.

The EMTs rushed toward Brittany and me, falling to their knees in front of us.

“Are you okay?” one asked, looking over Brittany carefully, while the other tended to me.

Brittany waved the man off. “Please, I’m fine. Take care of her.” She pointed at me.

“Are you hurt?” he then asked me, as his partner began taking vitals.

“A little beat up,” I said, trailing my fingers over the tenderness of my throat.

Just then, a surge of pain ripped through my stomach. I let out a loud gasp and grabbed my stomach.

“Miss! Miss! Please, tell me what hurts,” said the EMT, trying to get my attention as his partner quickly pulled his stethoscope away.

“My stomach,” I stammered. “It hurts…”

“What’s going on?” I heard Brad shout frantically. I could see his face moving quickly, trying to look through the crowd of people to find me.

“Help her!” cried out Brittany, her voice shaking.

“Please,” I said. “I’m pregnant.” I clutched my stomach tightly as warm tears streamed down my face. I had said the words out loud, making them all the more real. Making the danger of this situation all the more real. I choked on a sob, realizing just how much I wanted the baby. How much I wanted to be a mother.

Since yesterday when I took the test, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. But now, it was as clear as day. As the risk of losing the baby became real, I knew how much there was to lose. I wanted to keep the baby and spend my life loving him or her. No matter how lost I was or how heartbroken, I was going to see this through. I was going to be the best mother I could be, even if it meant I was doing it on my own.

“Wh-what?” Brad stammered, falling backward onto his heels as he looked at me in shock.

This wasn’t exactly how I had planned on telling him. Hell, I wasn’t sure if I was going to ever tell him at all. But now it was all out there. He knew.

I gave him a small nod.

“Please.” Brad pleaded with the cop who was now behind him again, ready to get him into his police car. “Please, let me go. I know I broke the law. I know I was going too fast, but I had to. I had to get to her.” He nodded in my direction.

The cop looked at me curiously as the EMTs continued taking vitals. Brittany clutched my hand tightly. “Please, listen to him,” she said.

The cop turned back to Brad.

“I had to help her,” said Brad, his voice shaking. “I’m the…I’m the father…”