Page 56 of The Photograph

Please. Please. Please, the Universe. Please…

I grab my cell from my purse before climbing on my bed where I sit crossed legged. My heart drums loud and furious as I dial the number I memorized all those years ago and never, ever thought I’d use. The receptionist transfers me, and when she picks up, I exhale a shaking breath.

“Hello, Dr. Nareen? It’s Aelin, Aelin Thorne, you might remember me as—”

She chuckles in the same warm voice I remember. “Hello, Aelin, how are you, little one?”

That’s her nickname for me.She remembers.“I’m well, thank you. Actually, I’ve never been better, my doctor just told me I’m pregnant, and uh … during our last conversation fourteen years ago, you said uh I…”

“Where do you live now, Aelin?”

It turns out her office is located couple hours away from here. She sets up an appointment for the next day.

At 10:00 AM sharp, surrounded by women in various stages of pregnancy, I sit in her pale yellow and cherrywood waiting room facing an enlarged print of the Black Iris. When my name’s called, I drop the outdated copy of Vogue and follow the young smiling round woman.

After entering the off-white office, I stop for a few seconds at the door and hold my breath while my eyes burn. Dr. Nareen’s lips curve up and my breath rushes out of my lungs as I race into her open arms.

My favorite doctor in the whole wide world leans back to look at me. “How are you, little one?”

Too choked up to speak, I nod at the tall, slim brunette with slanted brown eyes.

Leading me to her desk, she settles across from me. “Is Cara with you?”

I shake my head “Cara’s away for work. She’ll be back soon. But I won’t tell anyone before week twelve anyway.”

Her kohled eyes narrow briefly. “What about the father?”

My hands fist in my lap.The man who…“He’s not in the picture.”

We catch up on my life since she last saw me, then the extraordinary woman people nicknamed the ‘Baby Whisperer’ dips her chin as she stands up. “Let’s get you on the table.”

After she examines me, she sits me down and pulls her chair next to mine, so we’re facing each other, and she holds my hands. “Aelin, your pregnancy is, at best, extremely high risk. I want you to take the time to listen to your body and if anything feels wrong, anything at all, you call me, not my office, me personally, yes?”

I nod, wipe my tears off, and nod some more.

Her expression softens. “But I promise you if this baby is ready to come into the world, I’ll do everything in my power to help it do so.”

Nodding again, I hug her.

My first ally.

****

Eight days later, I wake up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat and out of breath.

“Cara?” My voice sounds faint in my ear even though I want to scream.

I try to inhale but a hippo sits on my stomach. Crushing me. Stabbing me. If I could just … just … I shift my legs… A sharp cutting pain rips slowly across my belly.

“Cara!”

Saliva floods my mouth and when I lift my head, my hair sticks to my nape. “Cara?”

Cara.I let my head drop on the sweat-soaked pillow. Hot knives battle inside me, tearing my belly, and I lose my breath. Fear strangles me. “Cara… I’m scared…”

She can’t hear me. Sounds explode in my head. I can’t hear me. Another wave rents me in half and throws me into flames.I’m going to die. I’m going to…

“Cara!”

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