2
1508 Words
IRIS
The silence in the room was deafening as the doctor hesitated, her expression giving away nothing, while my heart pounded in my chest.
Then in the twinkle of an eye, her face brightened, and she handed me the paper. “Congratulations, Mrs. Powell!” She announced with a smile. “You’re five weeks along!”
My shoulders slumped as a sigh of relief escaped my lips, and the anxiety in my chest faded away. I took the paper from her and glanced at it.
And I couldn’t stop the huge smile that broke out on my face as the words, ‘Positive’ stared back at me in black ink.
Those eight letter words ignited a feeling of hope within me, and I let out tears of joy as my hands instinctively moved to caress my stomach.
Finally.
I was carrying Zander’s child, a life created from our union. It was all I dreamed of ever since we got married.
This news could be what our relationship needed to turn around. I sat up straighter in my seat, every trace of doubt fading away as the determination to fight for my marriage coursed through my veins.
My hands itched to call Zander and tell him the good news. I knew he was probably in an important meeting at the moment, but my excitement got the better of me.
“Thank you for this good news, doctor,” I gave the doctor an appreciative smile before I pulled out my phone from my bag.
Immediately clicking on Zander’s contact, I placed the phone on my ear as I put a call across to him.
The line rang a few times before going to voicemail. But that didn’t deter me as I decided to leave a voice message.
“Hey Zander,” I began, trying to steady the excitement in my voice.
“I know you said we should get a divorce, but I have good news that can change everything. I’m pregnant with your child, and I’m ready to make our marriage work if you are. Please call me back when you get this message.”
I hit the send button as soon as I finished speaking and took a deep breath, the smile on my face never leaving.
I wasn’t going to give up on Zander.
An idea to welcome him back home with a special dinner consisting of his favorite meals popped up in my head. That will also be the perfect opportunity to show him the test result.
But what if I also got a scan done, so I can also show him the picture of our baby growing inside me?
With that in mind, I glanced up at the doctor. “Would it be possible for me to get a scan, or is it too early?” I asked, my teeth sinking into my bottom lip as I waited for her response.
The doctor shook her head. “Not at all. You’re actually at the perfect number of weeks to have your first scan. We can proceed immediately if you’re ready?”
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding as I nodded a bit more eagerly than I intended. “Yes please! Let’s do it right away.”
***
I walked out of the hospital a couple minutes later, and my eyes crinkled at the corners as they stayed glued to the 3D ultrasound image of my baby.
The gender was not known yet, but it didn’t matter. I was already fallen in love with him or her.
“Mummy’s going to shower you with all the love and care in the world,” I cooed, and kissed the picture before tucking it carefully into my bag.
Feeling light and cheery, I decided to do a quick grocery shopping for the things I’ll need to prepare and organize the dinner for Zander.
I headed over to the grocery store just a few blocks away from the hospital, and I spent the next twenty minutes filling my trolley with everything I needed until it was down to just one item—Zander’s favorite wine.
I walked over to the wine aisle and looked around until I spotted it on the top shelf. Not being the tallest person on the block, I stood on my tiptoes and stretched myself to reach for it.
Just as I grabbed the wine, I lost my balance, and I gasped as I felt myself falling.
My eyes squeezed shut as I clutched the wine to my chest, bracing myself for the painful impact. But it never came, instead I felt strong arms snake around my waist, holding me in place.
Relief washed over me, and my eyes flew open to look at my savior, only for my gratitude to instantly vanish when I saw who it was.
Lucian Hayes, Zander’s sworn enemy…and my ex from high school stood in all his six foot glory.
His forest green eyes stared right at me, and the smirk I had grown to hate twitched on his lips.
“This isn't how I imagined meeting you again after such a long time, don’t you think, amore?” He teased in his smooth, yet infuriating voice.
My eyes flashed with annoyance as I quickly moved away from his grasp and straightened my clothes before glaring at him.
“Don’t call me that,” I snapped. “You lost the right after you broke my heart in high school. Besides, I’m married, so show some respect.”
“Married?” He repeated in a condescending scoff. “You call that mental prison you’re trapped in a marriage? Don’t humor me, Iris. It’s all a sham, and you know it.”
My lips pressed into a firm line, and if looks could kill he would have been six feet under with the way my eyes shot daggers at him.
“Even if it is, It’s none of your business,” I spat. “Stay out of my life.”
I tried to walk around him, but he blocked my path. “You’re going to leave just like that?” He c****d a brow. “I just saved you from a possible concussion and fractures. The least I deserve is a thank you, don’t you think?”
My eyes flickered to him and I sported the sweetest smile I could muster, even though deep down, I felt like smashing the bottle in my hand against his head.
“Thank you for saving me, Lucian,” I made sure the sarcasm in my voice was evident. “Good at saving lives, and breaking hearts too. What would the world do without you?”
Rolling my eyes after I said this, I brushed past him before he had the chance to respond. There’s no way I’ll let him ruin my mood.
Without wasting time, I paid for my groceries at the counter, and struggled to fit all the shopping bags in my hands as I walked out of the store.
“Why did you buy more than you can carry?” Lucian’s voice sounded behind me.
I gritted my teeth, but ignored him as I made my way towards the road with the intention to cross.
“Come, on, let me help with that,” he offered, and I could hear his footsteps closely trailing behind me.
I’m sure it was a comical scene, a six foot man in a suit trailing behind a five foot six woman in flip flops and a floral dress.
But the irritation I felt at his presence overshadowed the humorous situation, and I whipped around to face him. “I didn’t ask for your help, Lucian. Leave me alone!”
I turned around again, and without looking, I stepped into the road.
“Iris, watch out!” Lucian’s voice called out behind me.
It seemed like time slowed as I turned my head in time to see the car speeding towards me. My legs were rooted to the spot as the screeching sound of tires filled my ears, and in a millionth of a second, the car slammed into me, sending me flying across the road.
The grocery bags fell from my hands as I landed on the pavement, my head colliding with the ground in an agonizing thud.
My head rolled to the side, and in that moment, I caught a hazy sight of a diamond earring on the ear of the person in the car that hit me, just as it sped away.
The pain that shot through me at that moment was something I would live to remember for the rest of my life, and I felt myself slipping away as black dots circled my vision.
Blood trickled down my temple, and I could also feel it trickling down my legs, but I was too weak to register what it meant.
Lucian’s bewildered face came into view, and his lips moved as though saying something.
But I couldn’t hear him as the world around me faded into darkness.
- Writer
