On the Altar

Chapter 9

POV-Crystal, age 16

My legs have acquired a jelly-like consistency as Misty and I walk into Dr. Green's cabin. She smiles at us reassuringly and asks Misty, "How are you doing Misty? Since I last saw you?"

"I'm doing fine, doesn't hurt as much, but still feels like a void every once in a while." says Misty and it is at times like these I remember what she went through last year, and what she must be feeling like to watch me go through it. 

Oh, Misty....

It made her... distant, from all of us for a while, and not just awkward around strangers like she usually is. I swear, sometimes I feel like murdering my brother for what he made her go through.

And no, that is not just the hormones speaking, because they might as well be nonexistent, who knows?

After asking Misty a few more questions, Dr. Green turns to me and says, "As for you now, Miss Mason.." 

"Please, call me Christy." I interrupt her. Someone calling me Miss Mason just made me feel old.

"Very well, Christy. Your suspicions were right, you are pregnant. You're done with the first trimester, it seems." she says, smiling softly, in an attempt to make me comfortable.

But she did just the opposite. 

I mean, I knew for sure that the odds of me being pregnant were 80-20, but still, I couldn't help the shock I felt. 

I look at Misty and she looks at me, shock and wonder evident in our faces. Dr. Green has an expression on her face which says, "Oh, same old, same old." 

Dr. Green says with concern, after a long pause, "Even though you are pregnant, the hCg levels are surprising me, Christy." 

"What do you mean?" I ask with worry. I go through my memory to remember whatever Misty had ever said to me about hCg.

 Human chronic, something something.....

"May I see that, Dr. Green?" Misty wants to be an OB/GYN, but this isn't the time to show everyone how brilliant she is. Anyone who spends five minutes in her company knows that!

It's a hormone which indicates pregnancy, can be detected.....

"Do you think...." Misty says to Dr. Green, with her eyebrows raised in disbelief, after reading the report in silence for a while. "But there's no history..." she stammers on and Dr. Green answers, "I'm going to do an ultrasound, Misty. We'll find out then."

As Dr. Green is preparing for the ultrasound, I look at Misty and ask her, "What did she mean by that, Misty? Am I sick or something?" She noticed the worry evident in my voice and got out of her trance. "What? No, no! Don't think stupid, Christy." 

I look at her with a raised eyebrow and she says "I promise. Nothing is wrong with you."

After what feels like an eternity, but is only a few minutes, Dr. Green is ready. She tells me to wear the hospital gown and put my feet up in stirrups. I comply. She puts cold gel on my stomach, with the ultrasound monitor near my bed and Misty near my head, I hold her hand in a death grip, so that I don't grab the monitor to hide my shaky hands. Dr. Green notices my nervousness and says gently, "Don't worry Christy, it's okay." My nerves don't disappear, but I feel a little bit calmer after listening to her soothing words of comfort.

She runs the scanner over my stomach in circular-like motions, which tickle me a bit. The monitor shows a gray balloon, much like Jen's. In fact, my womb is the exact copy of Jen's. 

Even the spots are in the right places....

Wait a minute.... spots!

What the....

No!

I can't be..

Dr. Green notices the disbelief I feel and chuckles lightly. It doesn't feel depreciating, but rather comforting. "Christy, there's no point living in denial. You are pregnant. But with twins." She points at the screen and continues, "That is Baby no. 1," she points at the other end and says, "That is Baby no. 2. I'll write up your prescription for folic acid and other prenatal vitamins. Take them on time, everyday."

I look at Misty and she is smiling softly, "Whatever you decide, kid. I'm with you, every step of the way."

I so don't deserve her.... and neither did my stronzo brother.

But I'm really glad to have her.