Chapter 3: But I can’t be Pregnant…

Megan’s point of view.

My mind kept wandering to that night, the night I made out with a stranger. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't erase that memory, despite pushing the thoughts away it stayed glued to my mind.

It was the only happy and sweet memory I had, and it haunted me whenever I was alone, it made my face lit, my teeth out and clean clenched, stopping the laughter from exploding.

I shouldn't have done that, what was I thinking? That thought would make my smile stop.

It's been a month, I knew I wasn't able to forget. Alcohol might have made my mind lost, dulling my senses but it couldn't erase the memory.

The way his nails traced my back, his warm breath hitting my skin, sending shivers down my spine, his breathy moans in my ear, the strength he used to pin me down, his control on my hands not letting my hands slip away under him, the aura he gave out, everything played in my head, too clear to forget, at least a happy memory.

I let out a shaky breath, tilting my neck to look at my reflection in the mirror.

My eyes were swollen, ringed with dark eye bags that told a sleepless night.

My skin looks paler than usual, it wasn't suiting my deep brown hair that laid freely on my shoulders.

I pressed my hands against my shoulders, my clothes feel tighter these days.

I felt bloated with my stomach growing,

“ Megan, you're gaining weight, what's the secret?” my coworker asked, I raised my eyebrows, my neck tilted and my eyes narrowed with my heart pounding, her compliment was a punch on my guts.

I've been having subtle changes in my body at first, the tiredness wasn't something to worry about at least I assured myself about that. 

I felt a movement in my stomach. I ran to the toilet, my hands on the toilet bowl and my mouth opened, throwing food in.

This wasn't the first vomit, it's been on occasion when I had bad foods, my head throbbed as I walked to clean my mouth, my legs were heavy with each step closer to the sink.

My stomach fluttered again, making me throw up again. I had to go for a check up. I can't ignore the signs of anyone, a part of me felt happy with the idea but my face became pale knowing it might be an internal sickness.

My phone buzzed on the table and I dragged my feet over to it, dragging it to the eye view. It was from the hospital. 

“Doctor Jane,” I whispered. 

I'd gone to take a test and now, I was waiting for the good news. I'd suspected pregnancy, but snapped out of the thought when I remembered that I was barren.

“Is this Megan?” she called over the phone, his voice gruff. 

“Yeah. Megan Woods,” I replied calmly, sitting on the chair. 

“You might want to come to the hospital, I've got news for you, the test result is out,” she said in a professional tone. 

I pinched the bridge of my nose, adjusting my posture on the couch. 

“Okay, I'll be right there in a minute,” I replied, a hint of skepticism in my voice. The line went dead and a deafening silence hung heavy in the air. 

I slipped into a jacket, before walking out of my apartment and into a cab. My eyes were fixed on the mirror as the cars and buildings passed by in a blur, a few minutes later, I was at the hospital.

The smell of antiseptic filled the air sharp and clean, burning my nostrils with each breath, the light flickering slightly, casting a weird shadow over the waiting room.

My fingers were shaky, my fingers curling into a fist inside my jacket, I sat on the chair with stiff muscles, the chairs itched with every longing second, my heart hitting my chest hard to escape.

Seconds turned to minutes, I felt like I was there for hours before the doctor walked in returning with a thin paper on her hands.

I looked at her face trying to read through them but it was calm and unreadable, which made my breath hitch in my throat.

“You’re pregnant, Ms. Megan.”Her words thinned as they hit my eardrum, but it echoed.

“What?” My voice low, my breath, I wasn't even breathing at that moment, my eyes flared up, blood rushed to my brains, my head protruding out like it was going to fall.

“You’re pregnant,” she repeated, her tone gentle yet firm.

The world spinned around me. The walls seemed to close in around me, the weight of her words pressing down on my chest.

For years, Richard– my ex husband always told me I couldn't have children, saying I had a damaged womb which taunted me, giving me sleepless nights, the doctors had confirmed it, I had no chance and there wasn't even a probability I would have children, I lost all hope and now…this?

Tears fell from my pale face, blurring my vision, distorting the world around me into flickering streaks of light.

I wasn't sure if I was happy laughing with closed eyes, or they were paralyzed with fear, or both, my heart wrapped with new emotions made my breath become shaky as my hands drifted to my stomach, trying to feel the living human in my stomach.

I felt the soft fabric of my jacket, I pressed slowly and gently as if I could actually feel the life growing inside me.

“Are you sure?” I said in a low voice, my voice barely more than a breath, each word catching in my tight throat, afraid that speaking the words aloud would somehow make them more real.

The doctor nodded. “We ran multiple tests. There’s no mistake.”

I swallowed hard, lubricating my dry throat, my fingers trembling. 

My mind ran wild, flashing back to that night, to the stranger whose name I didn't even get bothered to ask. I knew exactly who the father was. One reckless night had changed. I wasn't barren and I could have my own child.

I left the hospital in a hurry. The cool night air hit my face, but I barely felt it. 

The city's usual noise of honking cars, distant siren sounds and murmured conversation filled the air, I was used to it.

My steps felt weak with each step, shaking on the floor, my boots hitting against the pavement as I stepped into my house, I was lost in thought.

As soon as I stretched my legs into the kitchen, my legs felt warm, my hands moved, reaching for the coffee canister, the filter and the mug. I was used to the routine, making it seem like a robotic movement.

 The rich aroma filled the air as the dark liquid poured into my cup, curling upward in  swirls of steam. 

However the moment I lifted it to my lips, a fast wave of nausea developed through me, it was unplanned and violent. 

My stomach twisted, my intestines eating themselves,  I barely managed to set the cup down before throwing it in the sink.

I turned on the faucet, watching the coffee swirl down the drain, its bitter scent lingering in my nose reminding me of the sudden hate I had for my everyday drink.

My fingers shaked as I held myself against the counter, pressing my palms into the cold, rough surface. 

The rain outside hit the window hard, drumming on the roof above, that sound that aligned with the chaos brewing inside me.

I sucked in a deep shaky breath, my chest rising and falling.

 I wasn’t ready for this. My world had flipped upside down, and I had no control over where it would land. But as my hand unconsciously moved to my stomach, I felt a strange warmth on my palm.

This baby… this was a miracle.

A loud knock hit the door, suddenly shattering the silence and jolting me back to reality.

I shook, my heart hitting my chest. Who would be here by this hour?

Slow deliberate shivers traced down my spine, the kind that didn't fade but settled under my skin.

My fingers holding the door loosely, then tight, the wind outside roared, rattling the Window Panes with a force made the floor vibrate.

Rain raced down the glass in twisting patterns, wrapping the darkness in fear.

The handle was cold, and icy under my palms, penetrating my skin and my bones as I held the handle fighter.

My knuckles turning white, the tension coiling through my arm ready to snap, a breath escaped my lips, barely audible with the loud storm outside.

 I pulled the door back, making it open, the cold night air rushed in, wrapping around my skin.

The lightning hit his face, a figure in the rain, standing tall and not moving, the lights flickered through the water catching the sharp angles of his jaw.

His eyes narrowed, with his jaw clenching tighter I could see the bones, his clothes were soaked, his hair fell in his forehead, he stood with his hands buried deep in his pockets.

My breath cut in my throat, my lungs struggling to take air through my nose as his voice hit my ears.

A slow smirk on his lips.

I couldn't move, the air between me felt suffocating, my fingers curled into a fist by my sides, my nails digging into my palms. This wasn't happening.

How did he find me? Why was he here now?

My heart hit hard on my chest, my chest tightened to keep it in place, the world around me blurred, my vision fixated on his face. 

He stood tall towering over me, his eyes traced down my body, I followed the movement, his eyes was on my stomach 

His face lifted to a wilder cringe  smirk, his eyes narrowed, calculating, as if he had just confirmed something I wish he wouldn't suspect.

My blood became cold, turning to eyes chilling me from the inside.

His next words came out smooth, and deep.

“ Hello, Megan.”