She pulled up a chair beside my bed.“That's what friends are for.Now, how about we talk about something else while we wait for the doctor?Did you hear about that new dog cafe opening downtown?”
I latched onto the distraction gratefully.“No.Tell me more.”
As Mel described the cafe's concept—a place for people to enjoy coffee while playing with adoptable dogs—I gradually relaxed.
But our conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door.A doctor entered, his face unreadable as he glanced at his tablet.
“Ms.Parker?”he asked, looking up at me.It took me a moment to process.The Parker last name didn’t fit me anymore.No, I was Olivia Friedman.
I nodded, my throat dry.
The doctor's eyes flicked to Mel.“I have your test results.Would you like to discuss them privately, or...?”
“It's okay,” I said quickly.“Mel can stay.”
The doctor grunted an acknowledgement.The room fell silent, and I could hear my heart pounding in my ears.
“Ms.Parker, you're pregnant.”
I blinked, certain I had misheard.Pregnant?
The last few weeks replayed in my mind.Carter and I hadn’t exactly been careful.I looked at Mel, hoping to see my disbelief mirrored on her face.Instead, I saw shock giving way to… excitement?Oh, yep.She’s smiling.
“I...I can't be,” I whispered, more to myself than anyone else.
The doctor continued speaking, but his words sounded far away, as if I were underwater.Something about anemia and fainting spells.Prenatal vitamins.Iron supplements.
My hands moved to my stomach of their own accord.There was no bump, no physical sign of the life growing inside me.And yet, in that moment, the full impact of it hit me—the hope, the fear, the overwhelming responsibility.
Memories flooded my mind.The joy of my first positive pregnancy test with Ethan.The crushing despair of each subsequent loss.The way my body had betrayed me over and over again.
My chin quivered, and I blinked furiously, trying to hold back tears.What right did I have to hope this time would be different?And how could I bear it if it wasn't?I wanted to run, to hide, to wake up and find this was all a dream.
“Olivia.”Mel's voice cut through the chaos in my head.I registered the warm weight of her hand on my shoulder.“Breathe with me, okay?In...and out.”
I concentrated on her voice, trying to match my breathing to hers.Gradually, the room came back into focus.
“That's it,” Mel said softly.“You're okay.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
“Dr.Thompson,” Mel addressed the doctor, her voice taking on a professional tone, “I'll be overseeing Olivia's care as her OB/GYN.Can you send over her full test results?”
The doctor agreed, looking relieved to have another medical professional taking charge.He left the room after a few more instructions, leaving Mel and me alone.
At first, neither of us spoke.I stared at my hands, still resting on my stomach.
“How are you feeling?”Mel asked.
I let out a brittle, humorless laugh.“I don't know.Scared.Confused.Guilty.”
“Guilty?”
I pressed my lips together and gestured at my stomach.“For wanting this.For daring to hope, when I know how it could end.”
Mel squeezed my hand.“Hope isn't something to feel guilty about, Olivia.It's what keeps us going.”
“But what if,”—my voice broke— “what if I lose this baby too?I don't think I can survive that again.What if Carter?—”
