Chapter 24
Not Drowning, Waving
Carla tried to be business-like at the termination clinic. After all, she’d been twice before and knew the ropes. This time she opted for a local anaesthetic so she could be awake during the procedure and wouldn’t feel groggy afterwards. At first she was glad she hadn’t met the doctor before, but she was unsettled by the nervous demeanour of the very young and seemingly inexperienced practitioner.
“Hello, Carla,” the doctor smiled thinly. “I’m Lina. Lie back and relax if you can. We need to do an ultrasound to determine what stage of pregnancy you’re at,” she said.
“No need,” Carla said. “I can tell you the exact day of conception. I’m just over nine weeks pregnant.”
“You should have come in a few weeks earlier.”
“Yes, I know. It’s just that I’ve been
