Chapter 1 - Not Pregnant
— Suri —
My period was late and that could only mean one thing…
Or I wanted it to mean only one thing..
I was pregnant.
My trembling fingers tapped against the table and my knees bounced beneath it as I waited for the doctor and my results.
“Breath Suri, breath.” I muttered to myself.
I took a deep breath hoping it did calm the raging nerves in me but it only increased it.
“Relax Suri. You've done it right this time.”
I had checked my fertile days, circled them and even went ahead to set reminders on both my phone and that of my husband's, the reminders would not even have gone off before Collins started kissing me.
Those nights were on fire! A smile pulled on my lips.. Collins Coleman, he was one of the top ranking directors of the company he worked for.
My husband of three years, the man of every ladies dream but sorry to them he was taken by me. He has been supportive and loving just as the very first day we met.
“I believe we will succeed this time. My d**k is fire babe!” Heat rose to my cheeks as I recalled Collins words.
My smile widened as I pictured his face when I hand him my results of being pregnant. I know he wouldn't be able to contain his joy because we have been trying for a baby since the second year of our marriage.
The door pulled open, fastening me out of my thoughts, I sit up and my gaze met with Dr Sherry's and … she was smiling.
My anxiety slipped out the window, my heart raced in pure excitement… Yes!
Slowly my hands wrapped around my stomach … My bundle of joy.
“My little Angel, finally.” My cheeks were already aching from smiling so much.
“Mrs Coleman.” Dr Sherry called, I stared up, smiling at her but the smile I had seen stretched out earlier on her lips were gone and it was replaced with a disturbing look of … concern.
My smile faded, I leaned forward as my brows pulled together.
“Is something wrong with the ba-”
Dr Sherry shook her head gently,“The results came back negative, Ma’am.”
The hands around my stomach stilled…. Everything around came to a halt, silence surrounded me and made the sound of my shattering hopes and excitement deafening.
I swallowed hard as I pictured Collins’ sad face, a sadness he tries each time to mask up.
Negative. Not pregnant.
“No, please, No.” I stammered as I opened my eyes, they were blurred with tears already. “Dr Sherry. There has to be a mix up somewhere.”
Dr Sherry said nothing. She only stared at me with concern.
“My period was late. I was tired. I felt sick…” Tears blurred my vision and in no time began cascading down my cheeks.
The weakness, tiredness and all… were they not pregnancy symptoms? Google had said they were.
“That's the exact reason I wanted to see you myself.” Dr Sherry said, sounding surprised.
I looked up at her, a frown was settled on her face as she went through the file before her.
She stared straight into my eyes and asked, “Mrs Coleman, when was the last time you ate a proper meal?”
That question hit me straight in the gut.
I was not expecting that.
I opened my mouth to say something. Anything. But nothing was forthcoming.
“I…I..” I scrambled for words as Dr Sherry’s intense gaze seemed to pierce into my very soul, I recoiled in my seat and averted my gaze.
“I don't mean coffee, junks. Proper meal Mrs Coleman. When was the last time you took a proper rest or even drank enough water?”
I swallowed nothing… “Uhmm… I…”
“Wait, don't tell me…” Dr Sherry paused, her voice carried this disbelief.
Quickly I stared back at her and shook my head, forcing a smile on my face, “What are you talking about? I have been eating and resting well. Doctor, what's all these about?”
Dr Sherry sighed, the look on her face showed that she wasn't convinced, I forced my smile all the more.
“The results showed many symptoms of extreme tiredness, dehydration and even malnutrition.”
“To my surprise, I must say.”
“Oh.” I muttered, shame washing over me… I kept my smile intact.
“You are trying for a baby. You need all the rest and care you can get. With this,” she pointed to the results, “you won't be able to bring a child to term.”
I nodded still with my forced smile plastered on my face.
Dr. Sherry handed me the results, I thanked her and turned to leave but her words stopped me.
“Are you and Mr Coleman going through a rough -”
My face formed into a frown cutting off the rest of her words, “No. We are not.”
“Sure. Have a nice day, Mrs. Coleman.”
I turned and left the office.
**
With each step I took towards the door of my house my heart thumped in fear, the bottom of my stomach tightened.
I raised my hands to knock but my trembling fingers wouldn't even form a damn fist to knock.
Was it not hilarious?
That I was afraid of knocking on my own door?
Suddenly the door pulled open, “Oh, the barren woman is back!” Rina, my sister in law shouted, her tone laced with mockery.
“Rina, stop calling me barr-”
Before I could finish my words, Rina snatched my bag and ran into the house… goodness no! They must not see the results.. I ran after her.
But before I could even catch up with her, the contents of my bag was already spilled on the floor. Rina and Raymond were picking through the contents.
Raymond took my purse while Rina took the folded papers.
Fear washed over me, “Give it back!” I launched forward, my hands outstretched to snatch the paper but she dodged and I landed face down on the ground.
I winched in pain.
“What's going on here?” Julia, my mother in law asked as she stood by the kitchen door, Rina ran to her and opened the papers.
My body trembled… fear filled me. I knew what was coming.
“Pregnancy test. Negative!” Julia yelled in anger as she stormed towards me, “You barren witch! When will you give my son a child?! When?!”
She pulled me up by my hair. I knew better than to fight back, the very first time I fought back and talked back, I had received the beating of my life from the three of them when Collins wasn't around.
When Collins was around they acted all nice and kind but when he wasn't, I was in a lot of trouble.
“You just sit at home and spend my brother's money! You b***h!” Rina hissed.
“What do you expect from a college dropout?” Raymond shook his head as he threw my purse at me, he had taken out all my money, there was a smile on his face as he counted it.
“You are nothing but useless.” Julia yelled in my face, “If you can't give him a child, leave him the f**k alone!” She tightened her grip on my hair, I gritted my teeth pushing back the scream of pain.
Then the door bell rang.
“I am home!” Collins' voice sounded from outside, immediately as usual, Julia let go of me, I ran to the door as if my life depended on it and opened.
Collins and Rebecca, my friend, and also Collins’ colleague stood there smiling at me.
I hugged Collins and kissed him on the cheeks before wrapping my hands around my friend, “Rebecca. I have missed you!”
I felt something below poke at me, I slowly pulled away from Rebecca and my eyes widened as I saw a bump.
Rebecca was pregnant.
“Oh my goodness!” I screamed in excitement, wanting to hug her again but her actions stopped me…
Rebecca locked her hand with my husband's arm and rested her head on his shoulder, she then took his other hand and placed it on her bump.