Page 60 of Love By The Falls

“You want me to do this tonight?”

“Yes.”

I sigh as I push up from the plush couch. Although I’m drained, I’ll get no sleep if I don’t put this issue to bed tonight. “Hand me the box.”

Reluctantly, and a little belligerent, I take the kit to the bathroom and squat over the toilet to pee on the stick.

After washing my hands, I return to the couch where Sage has two steaming mugs of tea ready for us.

“Thanks,” I say.

“This will help soothe your nausea and it won’t harm the baby.”

“Sage!”

She shrugs again. “Just in case.”

I check the timer. Three more minutes to go. “I should put Charlie to bed.”

Sage waves me off. “Don’t avoid this. Charlie is happy playing video games and besides, it’s Saturday night. Let him stay up a little.”

I exhale deeply and close my eyes. My chest feels tight, and my breathing becomes shallow. Sage’s nervous energy is getting to me, and I jump when the timer goes off.

“What does it say?” she asks, leaning over to look at the stick.

“Are there supposed to be lines or something?” I ask as I reach for it on the side table.

“No, this one says ‘Pregnant’ or ‘Not Pregnant’. I can’t handle the pressure of remembering what the lines mean. So, what does it say?”

I pick up the stick and read it.

I blink several times, thinking I’m overtired and missing a word. “This can’t be right.” I hold it underneath the lamp next to the couch.

I slowly turn around to face Sage. Her eyes are wide, and she grabs my hand that still grips the stick. “What does it say?”

“It says ‘Pregnant’,” I whisper, staring at the word.

Sage wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me in for a hug. I bury my nose inside her hair, but I feel nothing. I’m numb, and can’t formulate a sentence or even a thought. It feels as though the blood in my veins is ice cold and I shiver.

Sage rubs my back, soothing me. “It’s going to be okay, Charlotte. I promise.”

“I—I’m—”

I can’t say the word again. It seems unfathomable. It’s impossible.

“I don’t understand how this happened,” I murmur, mainly to myself.

“Well, usually when you’re relaxed, and not thinking about it…”

I shake my head. “I don’t want to hear it.”

I blink several times. Maybe this is a dream.

Wake up, Charlotte.

Wake up, damn it!

Sage puts her hands on my cheeks, and while she’s staring at me, I don’t see her. I only see a hospital bed and a white sterile delivery room.

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