Page 114 of Crash: Love in Scrubs
“I love you too.”
A knock interrupted the moment, and Dr. Cole stepped inside with a warm smile. She was a middle-aged Black woman with calm, kind energy that immediately settled the room.
“Good morning, Sametra. And you must be Malik,” she said, extending her hand.
“Yes ma’am. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Congratulations on your engagement,” she added.
“Thank you. And thank you for taking such good care of my wife.”
“My pleasure,” she said, moving to wash her hands and prep the ultrasound. “Let’s take a look at this baby. Based on your last cycle, you should be right around eight weeks. We should be able to see quite a bit today.”
Eight weeks. Our baby had been growing inside her for eight whole weeks, and this would be the first time I got to meet them. The thought alone made my stomach act up.
“Alright, Sametra, go ahead and lie back and lift your shirt. This might feel a little cold,” Dr. Cole said as she squeezed gel onto her stomach.
I stood beside the table, holding her hand. The machine hummed to life as Dr. Cole placed the wand gently on her skin.
“Let’s see what we’ve got here...” she murmured, eyes focused. “Ah, there we go.”
The screen flickered and there it was. Our baby, our little sweet pea growing and blowing my mind already.
“Oh my God,” Sametra whispered, tightening her grip on my hand.
I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t even move. I was looking at our baby, ouractualbaby, and I swear I’d never felt anything more beautiful or more terrifying in my life.
“Everything looks perfect,” Dr. Cole said. “Nice size, good placement. Let’s see if we can find...”
And then it hit…the sound. A rapid rhythm filled the room, strong and steady.
Thu-thump. Thu-thump. Thu-thump.
That sound wiped out every doubt, every fear, every worry I’d been carrying. My baby’s heartbeat. Our baby’s heartbeat. Strong as hell.
“That’s the heartbeat,” she said, smiling. “One-sixty beats per minute. Exactly where we want it.”
I turned to Sametra and leaned in close, my voice subdued and full of nothing but love and the utmost respect. Our baby’s heartbeat still echoed through the room.
“Anything you need or want, I got you. You’re carrying my whole life in there. I could never repay you for that. Not ever.”
She turned her head, blinking fast. “What did I tell you about making me cry in public?”
“I’m sorry,” I said, brushing my thumb along her wrist. “I just need you to know… nothing’s out of reach. You want the moon? I’m on the phone with NASA to get you the damn moon and a few stars too.”
She laughed through tears, shaking her head. “Stop. Please.”
Dr. Cole chuckled softly. “Malik, I’ve heard a lot in this room over the years, but that? That was beautiful. Exactly what a mama needs to hear. You two are gonna be just fine.”
She continued the exam, pointing out different angles, taking measurements, and narrating every step. I soaked it all up, asking questions about development and what to expect over the next few weeks.
“Do you want me to print some pictures?” she asked.
“Yes, please,” I said before she could finish. “As many as you’ll give me.”
She laughed. “I can tell you’re excited. First baby?”
“First one,” I said, still staring at the screen.
