Chapter Three
1111 Words
Six months after the breakup, I was working in a cafe after graduation while waiting to hear back from the internships I’d applied to. The familiar jingle of the bell greeted me as I walked in for my shift, and I smiled at a few familiar faces, waved to Riley, my roommate and colleague who was already behind the counter, and headed straight for the staff room.
The job wasn’t glamorous, but at least it paid the rent for the tiny apartment I shared with Riley, and it was better than the foster home I grew up in. Getting a scholarship and going away to college had been my chance to escape that life. I was supposed to keep my head down, graduate, and get a good job. I had no space for love in my plan…until I met Matteo, and how did that end?
The last few months of school had been hell. Everyone knew about the photo, whispers followed me everywhere, but I was able to keep my head down and somehow I made it to graduation without running into Matteo and any of his friends since we all had different majors.
I laughed bitterly under my breath, shaking my head. “And that’s why you don’t fly too close to the sun,” I muttered, forcing a smile as I stepped out of the room.
The cafe was busy today, and the hours flew by in a rush, but by late afternoon, the last customers trickled out and we could finally catch our breaths.
Riley groaned dramatically as she leaned against the counter. “Phew, that was insane. I wonder if there’s something going on nearby that drew in all that crowd.”
“Yeah, it w—” I started, but the words died on my tongue as a sudden wave of nausea crashed over me and I doubled over, slapping a hand over my mouth.
“Whoa, Soph! Are you okay?” Riley rushed around the counter, grabbing my arm as I tried to steady myself.
“I’m fine,” I gasped, forcing a shaky laugh. “Just a little lightheaded probably because I haven’t eaten all day, that’s all.”
“Are you sure you don’t need to sit down? You look a bit pale.” Riley frowned, scanning my face.
“I’m fine,” I repeated, waving her off.
“Seriously, you don’t look fine, maybe you should….”
Her words turned into a muffled echo as a sharp pain sliced through my skull, and I felt my knees wobble as the edges of my vision blurred.
“...fia? Sofia? Hey, can you hear me?”
I wanted to tell her not to make a scene as we still had a few customers sitting around, but my tongue felt heavy.
“Someone call an ambulance!” That was the last thing I heard before the world went dark.
I drifted in and out of consciousness, my head was pounding, the pounding intensifying as I tried to open my eyes. The room felt too bright even with my eyes closed, and when I finally managed to move, a groan slipped out of my lips.
Soph?” That was Riley's voice. I felt a warm hand squeeze mine, and then a shadow fell across my face, blocking the light, and I was finally able to open my eyes.
It took a few seconds before everything came into focus. Riley’s worried face hovered over me, her eyes red-rimmed and wet with tears. The moment our gazes met, she let out a shaky sigh.
“Thank God you’re finally awake, I’ll go call the doctor.”
“Doctor?” I rasped, but she was already gone, leaving me confused.
I blinked, trying to make sense of my surroundings. This was a hospital room…how had I gotten here? The last thing I remembered was talking to Riley after the afternoon rush, feeling lightheaded…then everything went black.
Before I could gather my thoughts, the door opened again and Riley walked in with a middle-aged man following behind her.
“Good to see you awake, Miss Johnson,” he said with a professional smile. “You gave your friend quite the scare.”
“Yeah, you scared the hell out of me,” Riley said, crossing her arms. “One minute you were fine, the next you were on the floor.”
“I’m…sorry,” I murmured, still groggy. “What happened to me?”
“You passed out from fatigue and low blood pressure,” the doctor explained. “It’s not uncommon given your…condition.”
“My what?” I blinked at him, confused.
“Your condition,” he repeated slowly. “You really shouldn’t be skipping meals in your state, it’s not good for you or the baby.”
“The what?”
“Wait…baby?” Riley and I said at the same time.
“Yes, the baby,” the doctor repeated, glancing between us. “You’re pregnant.”
“I’m what?” I screeched.
“You're seven months pregnant, and you had no idea?” The doctor frowned, clearly surprised.
“I…” My voice came out high pitched. “No! I can’t be pregnant! My periods have been regular, and I haven’t even….” I stopped mid-sentence as his words hit me.
Seven months…my heart stuttered in my chest. Seven months ago…that would have been just before Matteo broke up with me. That means…that means I'm carrying Matteo's child.
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “No-no-no-no. This can’t be happening.” I was finally getting my life together, I can't handle a child, I can't prepare for a child in just two months.
I couldn’t stop shaking, my breaths were coming out in short, panicked gasps, and I could feel myself on the edge of a panic attack. “I can’t, Riley, I can’t do this. I’m not ready. I’m barely keeping myself together, and now….”
“Hey, hey, breathe, okay?” Riley climbed onto the bed beside me, wrapping her arms around me and holding me tight. “Just breathe, Soph.” She kept murmuring reassurances until I finally calmed down.
“Explain right now. How could she be seven months pregnant and have no idea?” She turned to the doctor.
“Well…cryptic pregnancies are quite rare, but sometimes it happens.” The doctor sighed.
“That sounds insane,” Riley muttered while I stared blankly at the wall. All I could think about was the look on Matteo’s face that day — the hatred and disgust — and the knowledge that a piece of him was now growing inside me.
- Writer
