Chapter 005: I'm pregnant?

Caroline

 The doctor was so kind, but I wasn't sure if he was right. Maybe I was just imagining things. I'd been through so much lately, maybe I was just making things up. 

An hour later, after waiting for the test results, the doctor came back. He looked at me, his face serious. He was holding some papers in his hands.

"Caroline," he said, "I think I know why you haven't been feeling well."

My heart jumped. "Is it serious?" I asked, my voice shaky. 

He sat down in front of me and said, "Not serious, but really unexpected. You're pregnant."

The words felt like a punch to the gut. Pregnant? It couldn't be right. My mind was spinning, trying to make sense of it all. 

"I'm…pregnant?" I asked, still confused.

"Yes," the doctor confirmed. "You're about a month pregnant. And there's more…"

My hands were shaking. "More?"

He looked at the papers and said, "You're having triplets." 

My world stopped. Triplets? The word echoed in my mind, bringing back all the bad memories of Jeffrey. He had always wanted a baby and had been so cruel to me when I couldn't get pregnant. He called me names like "barren." 

Maralyn, my best friend, had even rubbed it in my face! But here I was, in a new country, being told I was pregnant with three babies!

"Are you sure?" I asked, my voice trembling. "This can't be possible. I was told—" 

I didn't complete my sentence when he interrupted.

"I understand this is a shock," the doctor said kindly, "but the test results are clear. You're having three babies."

I couldn't speak. Everything felt crazy. Pregnant? With triplets? After all those years of trying, after all the pain and heartbreak, I was suddenly pregnant. And not just with one child, but three!

The doctor went on to explain what would happen over the next few months, what precautions I needed to take, and how my body would change. I was barely listening. All I could think about was the fact that I was pregnant. 

After the appointment, I walked outside, feeling overwhelmed. My head was spinning. I needed to get home and think.

"Taxi!" I called, waving my hand. A yellow cab pulled over and I climbed in. 

"Where to, miss?" the driver asked.

"Just take me to my apartment," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

 The driver drove with speed as I tried to focus on the news, the good news. I was going to be a mother. But then I remembered the little details. I was going to be a single mother. In this new  country. With no family or friends to help me. 

I had lost my wallet that night at the bar. All my money, my ID, everything was gone. I was still thinking the bartender could trace me and get it back to me but he didn't have my number and again, I was already out from the country.

The cab pulled up in front of my apartment building. I paid the driver and stepped out. As I reached for the door handle, I noticed my stuff was sitting on the steps, all my bags and boxes piled up outside the door. 

My heart sank. My landlady was standing by the door, arms crossed, looking at me with a cold stare. 

"Looks like you're out of here, Caroline," she said, her voice tight. "I'm tired of waiting for your rent. You've got 24 hours to get all your stuff out."

I was stunned. I had no money, no place to go, and now I was being evicted. 

"But I…" I started, but she cut me off.

"You can't stay here. Find another place. And make sure you're gone by tomorrow night." 

The door slammed shut in my face. I stood there on the steps, my stomach churning. I was a single mom-to-be, with no money, no home, and no idea what to do next. 

All I could do was stare at the boxes on the steps, my future, it seemed, was falling apart right before my eyes. 

I sat down on the steps, my head in my hands. How could this be happening? Just a few hours ago, I had been overwhelmed with joy, but now, I was drowning in fear and uncertainty. 

The news about the babies was a mix of happiness but this, this was a nightmare. I had no money, no home, and no idea how I was going to take care of myself, let alone three babies. 

I looked at the boxes, at the clothes and furniture that had been my home for the past few months. It felt like my entire world was being packed up and thrown away. 

"Caroline," a voice called out.

I looked up and saw a man standingon the other side of the street. He was tall, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. He looked familiar, but I couldn't place him. 

He started walking towards me, his face serious. "I know you're in trouble. I saw what happened."

He stopped in front of me, his eyes meeting mine. "I'm here to help." 

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash. "Take this. It's not much, but it should tide you over until you can get back on your feet."

I stared at the money, confused. "I…I don't know…" 

"It's okay, Caroline," he said, his voice soft. "We all need a little help sometimes."

He placed the money in my hand, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe this stranger could be my lifeline,he could help me make sense of this crazy, chaotic world.

My heart felt like it was about to burst. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring the already dusty street in front of me. I had to get out of here. This place was a nightmare. I hadn't meant to break the vase, it just… slipped. The landlady's frown was like a storm cloud hanging over my head. 

"I'll be out by the end of the month, I promise," I mumbled, handing over the meager sum I had managed to scrape together. The landlady sighed, her expression softening just a bit. It was hard not to feel sorry for me, even though she knew she shouldn't. 

I turned, hoping to find the man who had helped me earlier. He had seemed so kind, so understanding. But when I looked back, he was gone. Vanished like a ghost. He hadn't even left a name. 

"Mr...?" I whispered, feeling a wave of panic wash over me. He was the only friendly face I'd seen in this city. 

I took a deep breath and dragged my suitcase inside, the weight of it mirroring the weight on my shoulders. I had to find a job. Quickly. My certificate from school felt useless in this cold, hard city. Everywhere I went, I heard the same thing: "No experience." Where was I supposed to get experience if no one would give me a chance? 

Days turned into weeks, and my hope dwindled. The money I had was running out, and the end of the month was just around the corner. I needed a miracle. I needed... 

Suddenly, a flyer on the wall caught my eye. It was for a new store opening up, a place that sounded like a dream come true. It was exactly the kind of job I wanted. The only problem was, it was in a very different part of the city. A part I had never been to before. 

My heart skipped a beat. Could this be my chance? I grabbed the flyer, clutching it tightly in my trembling hand. What if I went, but the man wasn't there? What if I found something even worse than the landlady's frown? What if… 

I had to find out. I had to take the chance. I took a deep breath and stepped out into the street. I had no idea what awaited me, but I knew one thing for sure - I couldn't stay here any longer. My fate was about to be decided.