My eyes slowly parted open. It was still dark. However, after a while, I could make out the things around me. My eyes landed on a small bed at the far end of the room which seemed very unfamiliar. 'This isn't my room.' I thought and suddenly became alarmed. The door opened and at last, something familiar.
"You're awake!" Trisha exclaimed on seeing me. She quickly turned on the light and I squeezed my eyes shut at the sudden brightness. "How are you feeling now?"
"I'm okay, Trish. What happened to me?"
"You...you feel sick." She said, "But you'll be fine here in the hospital."
She went silence for some time as I stroked my head, trying to recall what had happened to me. Then her words dropped like a bomb, "You're pregnant.".
"What?" I asked, perplexed. Did she just hear herself or was she delusional?
"I said you're pregnant, Mélie." She repeated in a firmer tone than the last. I moved back on the bed in awe to look at her properly. Certainly, she wasn't deranged. Her face wore all the seriousness Trisha Baldwin could ever get.
So she was serious. "H-how is this even possible?" My voice broke in disbelief.
"You tell me, Mélie. I thought you walked into Derrick cheating on you. You couldn't have made love to him, right?"
"No." I tried to think. I had gotten really drunk that night. But I certainly did not return to Derrick for a threesome. How could I get- Suddenly, memories from that night came pouring into my head like a fountain. I suddenly remembered the stranger at the bar.
Flashback:
"More!" I urged the bartender in a raspy unfeminine voice which strained my throat as I spoke. He replied with a nod and quickly filled up my glass. He hadn't enough time to put the drink away as I urged him still, for another shot of Vodka. The hot drink danced against the back of my throat as I swallowed. The next second, it felt like I had consumed fire. But only for a moment, as what followed was a sensational feeling. Then a silly grin on my face.
The entire room was spinning by now. Suddenly, I felt powerful. The weak little girl that had walked into the club was gone. I felt rebellious. I was really to attack Derrick. I'd kill him! I have never, since the 4 years that we have been together, stood up to him. I had always listened, always obeyed, because I was afraid of lossing him. But then he went behind my back and cheated on me. Now, I was weaponed by a sudden boldness derived from several shots of Vodka!
I got up with sloppy feet and tried to walk. My legs felt like spaghetti and I missed a step. Just as I lost my balance, I felt a firm pair of hands grab onto my waist. 'It was him. It had to be Derrick!' I thought.
But as I looked at the person who was holding unto me, my clouded eyes melted at his sight. He wasn't Derrick. No, far from him. This man had to be the most handsome man I'd ever beheld. Instantly, my anger was replaced by another intense feeling which I could not make out.. His alluring dark eyes pierced mine and they suddenly turned melancholy.
"Come with me!" His husky voice vibrated through my body. And like a spell, I found myself being led away from the club.
***
Unconsciously, my fingers began tracing my skin. First to my arm, then to my neck, and further up to my lips. He had caressed my body like it was his own. My skin shuttered as it remembered his touch. My ears rang as it recalled his groans and my cries of pleasure from that night. My lips quivered as it remembered the passionate kisses he planted on them. We had made love!
My eyes bugged out and my jaw fell open in shock as the realisation dawned on me. I looked up and my eyes met Trisha's. Her eyes held so many questions.
"I met someone after I had left Derrick's." I finally said. Trisha lowered herself beside me on the hospital bed.
"You met someone?" She echoed my words. "You mean you had sex with someone after seeing your boyfriend having sex with another woman?"
She was clearly baffled.
"I was drunk, okay. I didn't mean for any of that to happen. Gosh, I don't even know him!" I grunted out in both frustration and embarrassment.
The room fell silent. "But you're pregnant for him." Trisha said and I clinched onto my stomach. "What are you gonna do now?"
This felt like something straight out of a movie. How could I be pregnant for someone I didn't even know? Someone I had only just met in a spur of the moment? Now, I was carrying a child for an unknown man.
I felt the world around me start spinning again. Trisha immediately noticed and helped me lay on my back. "Gosh, why is this happening to me?" I blurted out in frustration. Hot tears were trying their best to water my eyes and my effort to stop myself from crying suffocated me.
"Babes, calm down okay. Your blood pressure isn't too good. Just relax. Breath okay? Breath."
I took her advice and breathed in and out, but a little too fast. After a while, I felt better.
Trisha didn't say anything else. She was afraid of seeing me tear up again. I didn't say anything either, for the same reason. I became lost in my thoughts, trying to find answers to questions I didn't want to answer and trying to find solutions to problems I had unintentionally created. The door opened and a doctor, alongside a nurse, walked in.
"How are you feeling, miss Shapman?" The doctor inquired. He was a friendly looking man in his fifties. I muttered that I was feeling better and he promoted Trisha to excuse him as he wanted to conduct a check up. He inspected my eyes and my tongue and felt my pulse before proceeding to check my heartbeat. It was already loud enough to reach my ears. I wondered what he needed the stethoscope for.
"Yes, mother and child are doing well." The doctor said with a grin. "You are free to go home now miss Shapman."
I gave no answer. The old man stood there awkwardly for a while, then said, "Yes, I'll leave you two then."
I couldn't care less about why he was repeatedly saying yes. My mind was still foggy. I turned to Trisha after what felt like forever. Still, she didn't say anything, but her eyes couldn't hide it. She was more worried than before.
"I don't know what to do, Trisha!" I said in a near whisper. Trisha returned to her former position beside me and took hold of my hand, giving it a light squeeze. This little gesture eased my nerves down a bit.
"Everything will be okay, Mélie." She reassured me. "You don't have to think about it right now. You could take your time. It'll help you make the best decision."
I heaved a heavy sigh. But what was there to think about? Certainly, getting rid of a poor innocent baby wasn't an option. However, this was the hardest decision of my life, "I'm keeping the baby." I finally said after another eternity of silence.
I eyed Trisha and waited for her to speak. I needed the support of my best friend. After a while, a smile curved up her lips, "I'm so proud of you." She said and drew me into an embrace. "And I'll support you all the way."
I felt my emotions building up again. But I was somewhat happy. I needed that reassurance. Keeping a pregnancy for an unknown father isn't what every woman would do. But I will do just that. I smiled against Trisha's neck, inhaling her scent. I always felt safe in her arms. She greatly reminded me of my mother.