Emma shook her head in shock while Carrie gasped, a hand flying to her mouth. Softly, Emma said, “That’s not true, I don’t have a boyfriend, I am a...” Emma started saying but was stopped by the images of the passionate night she shared with John. She shook her head slowly as tears rolled down her cheeks. She whispered, “It can’t be, it can’t be. It was just the one time and, and...”
“Did you use a condom? Are you on birth control?” The doctor asked softly.
“No, no, I never needed it, I wasn’t sexually active before then and it was my first time and...” Emma broke into a loud sob and Carrie held her as she cried. “No, no, there has to be a mistake. Run the test again, run the test again…”
“Emma, I am hundred percent sure you are pregnant.”
“No!” Emma pulled away from her friend. She tried to push off the bed. “I have to go home. I have to get out of here.”
“I’m sorry but you can’t. From the information we gathered from your friend here earlier, you have not been eating well and you have been overworked. And it has taken a toll on you and your baby. Right now, you need rest and fruits and...”
Emma’s body wracked with sobs as she wailed. She held on to Carrie who blinked hard so she would not cry as well.
“I can’t be pregnant, Carrie. What am I going to tell Gramps? I'm going to be such a disappointment to him. He’ll never forgive me.”
“Emma, I understand what you are going through but this is not healthy for you or the baby,” The Doctor said.
“I want to be left alone, please leave.”
Emma lay back down and turned her back on them. Carrie sighed and headed out, followed by the doctor. Dr. Kingston headed straight to the nurses’ station which was across Emma’s door.
“I want you to keep an eye on the patient Emma Price. I need eyes on her every ten minutes. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Dr. Kingston.”
Dr. Kingston turned to Carrie and said, “Can you please come with me?”
Carrie followed the doctor down the hall. She opened a door and ushered Carrie in. Carrie stepped into an office with lilac walls. It was brightly lit and pictures of the birth process covered the walls. She ran a hand down her face and sighed. So it really was real. She could not believe this was happening.
“Please have a seat.”
Carrie did and looked at the woman with worried eyes, “Is my friend going to be okay? How about the baby?”
Dr, Kingston smiled ruefully. She nodded and said, “She needs to rest and eat. She is carrying a baby and since she was not eating enough for one, let alone for two, her body could not withstand the stress. She just needs to stay here for a day or two and she’ll be good as new.”
Carrie shook her head and let the tears fall, “She didn’t deserve to have her life derailed like this. Why her? She hadnever done something so crazy before. She was a virgin! She just spent a night with that bastard and she ends up pregnant? Heck!”
Dr. Kingston cleared her throat and Carrie sighed, “Don’t get me wrong, children are beautiful gifts from God, they just aren’t what my friend had in store for her life now. I know you are going to say it’s her fault and she was reckless but come on, she doesn’t deserve this. She made a mistake...”
“Not all adults are judgmental, Carrie. I won’t judge Emma. Mistakes happen and one has to accept them for what they are and move on with the consequences. Now what were you saying about some bastard?”
Carrie looked reluctant and Dr. Kingston said, “You can trust me, Carrie. Whatever you tell me won’t get out of this room.”
“Well… it’s some guy she’s had a crush on for over a year. Over a month ago, we met him in a club. Emma returned home with him and after their night together, he froze her. She was just an object for him to use and dump, the bastard.”
“How do you think he will take this news?”
Carrie scoffed, “Like the coward that he is, of course. I bet he is going to try to flee his responsibilities, he’s a crook.”
“And her grandfather? She seemed very scared earlier.”
Carrie sighed and shook her head, “I don’t know if I should tell you this. You see, Emma was born out of wedlock as well. Her mother went to Spain for an exchange program for a year. She returned with a baby bump. Her father, Emma’s grandfather was awfully enraged and kicked her out of thehouse. She left and four months later, returned with Emma in the night. He could not turn her away that night so he let her stay. By next morning, she was gone. She has never returned and Gramps raised Emma all by himself.”
“So it’s like the cycle is repeating itself. And how about her grandmother?”
“Emma never met her. She died while Emma’s mom was still in her early teens.”
“That’s really so sad, but Emma needs to understand that her life is not over. It’s going to be difficult being a young mom but she can do it. And she is in her last year so it all works well. With the support of her loved ones, she will get through this.”
