Chapter 10

Isabelle

My heart thumped in my chest as I was descending onto the ground with flailing arms, trying to find balance. But I bet gravity was set to frustrate me.

I could only watch myself as my face collided with the hard floor and searing pain exploded through my body. Then, everything went pitch black.

Weird noises boomed in my head, the building rotating over me as if it'd collapse the next moment. A headache threatened to split my head in half. Every inch of my body protested as I tried to lift myself and I slumped onto the cold floor again. What was happening to me?

I struggled to rise, hands pressed hard onto the floor, belly raised above the ground, as I pushed up the rest of my body. My teeth ground so hard that I thought they might break. When I was standing finally, I stretched out my arms searching for something to hold onto.

The toilet door loomed over my face. The next moment, I pulled the door handle and staggered into it, sinking onto the toilet seat immediately.

After a couple of minutes, when my eyes were a bit steady, I dragged my feet over to the big mirror hung onto the wall. A gasp ripped off my lips as I took in the view before me. My hair stuck in different directions and my eyes had heavy bags. I raised a hand to access my face–swollen, bruised and aching.

Then, a thought hit me which made every pain vanish. The baby. My baby.

I pressed my lower abdomen lightly, checking for pains or any sign of blood since I had fallen face flat. None. Yet why was my heart beating erratically?

I needed to get to the hospital. And fast.

I turned on the shower, chills coursing through my body as the cold water hit my skin. I grabbed the soap bottle and within seconds, my whole body was covered in foam. Within five minutes, I was done scrubbing my body. I ran the water again, dried my skin and hurried out of the bathroom.

God please, let my baby be okay.

Different thoughts swirled through my mind as I pulled a dark, flowing gown over my head. I glanced at my phone to check the time. 8 a.m. Great timing.

I stood by the road and in no time, a cab pulled over.

"General Hospital please." I told the driver and he nodded, gesturing for me to climb in.

When I was settled into the car seat, he started the car and zoomed off.

The morning sun reflected on the tarred road, creating shimmers over the high way. The town's vibrant landscape unfolded, with people hurrying to start their day amidst chatter and the blare of car horns. Taxis sped alongside each other, while supermarkets opened in earnest sampling their products. Ornamental trees adorned the streets, adding to the town's lively charm.

This was the first time I really had time to observe this town and I was captivated by its beauty. My eyelids drooped as fatigue gripped me and I closed my eyes.

"We're here."

I jerked awake at the driver's voice. After paying the fare, I walked into the hospital compound. The hospital's entrance featured a large sign reading "General Hospital, Asheville." The compound was clean and well-maintained, with cars parked neatly in the designated areas. The modern building stood tall, its glass windows gleaming in the sunlight.

I made my way to the Obstetrics & Gynaecology ward. Sighting a nurse at the front desk, I walked to her to register.

She raised her head from a folder as she sensed me approaching. Her lips curved into a gentle smile. "Can I help you?"

"I'm here to register. I want to see the Doctor."

She nodded and directed me to the records officer. When I was through with the registration, I returned to the Nurse's desk to have my vitals taken.

After this, I was directed to sit at the waiting hall. The next thirty minutes were agonizing for me as I checked the wall clock every five minutes. Sudden fever engulfed me, my head pounded and my throat went dry. My eyes reddened and every inch of my body screamed with pain. What the hell was happening to me?

I was on the verge of losing it when a nurse called me into the Doctor's office.

A man who seemed to be in his early fifties, with blue eyes and a small frame, sat there. "Good morning, Isabelle. How do you do?"

I nodded to his greetings as I sat to face him.

"What's the matter?" He asked, as he pulled my folder.

"At midnight, I woke to severe headache and body pains. On my way to the washroom, I fell face flat and was passed out till this morning. My condition is getting worse. Fever has started too." I complained, massaging my forehead.

"I don't know what is happening to me Doctor. Am I safe? Is my baby safe?" My eyes glistened with tears and my voice choked with emotion.

"Calm down, dear. You're fine. You're baby is fine. Please cooperate with me. I assure you, you will be alright."

He gave me a reassuring smile and I felt a bit of calmness within me.

"Before I go on with the diagnosis, I want to send you for some tests and scans."

He scribbled on a piece of paper and handed it over to me. I went the the lab tests first after which I moved to the Radiology department to do the scans.

I returned to the Doctor's waiting room, awaiting the test results. A lot of questions flooded my mind but I had no answers. I squirmed in my seat repeatedly, uncomfortable in every sense.

"Isabelle Grant."

My head snapped up and I saw the Doctor beckoning on me to come into his office.

"Doctor, what does the results say?" I burst out impatiently.

"Please calm down, Miss Isabelle."

I took a deep breath. "I'm calm but what does it say?"

The Doctor stared at me, making a are-you-sure-you-are-calm kind of face and I couldn't help but break into a smile.

"There you go." He said, giving a small laugh. "So, you ran some blood tests and… we noticed some irregularities. Nothing you should really be worried about. Your baby is fine. But we noticed a condition–"

"What Doctor?" I asked, impatience creeping into my tone again. I hate the way my stomach tightened with a familiar knot.

He looked at me for a heartbeat as though he was having hard time, putting the words together.

"We suspect that you are facing Gestational Hypertension."

My heart slammed in my chest. Wait what?