CHAPTER 22 - NEW BEGINNINGS

Avery's POV

“Please come with me Ma’am,” a nurse said as I left the operating room and got fully dressed.

Ashley came in halfway to the doctor's office and I clung to her for support as we both wondered what went wrong.

“You can't go in with her Ma’am,” the nurse said to Ashley as we got to the door of the doctor’s office.

“Please let her go with me,” I pleaded, I didn't know what other complications had stopped the abortion but I needed all the support I could get when I was hearing the news.

“No problem,” the nurse nodded and let us in.

“Good day Ma’am, please take a seat,” the doctor said as he motioned to the chair for us to sit.

“Good day doctor, I would like to understand what went wrong today,” I said without hesitation.

He was the same doctor from the operating room so I was sure he knew what was wrong but what I didn't understand was the sorry look on his face.

“The reason I stopped the procedure is because you need to be informed of something our tests seemed to have missed before we proceed,” he said, looking calm and collected.

I breathed a sigh of relief, so... the procedure could continue but they just had to tell me something.

“Then why did he say something about my safety and all?” I wondered in confusion but nothing prepared me for the words I heard next.

“There is a rupture in your womb Ma’am and this might be the last child you conceive,” he said looking at me apologetically.

“What do you mean?” I asked to the doctor as Ashley squeezed my hand trying to offer some kind of support.

“I mean if you abort this child now, you may never get pregnant ever again,” the doctor said, trying to keep a straight face but obviously feeling pity for me.

“This might be sudden and very hard to hear but given this circumstance, it is important that you are informed of this development before we continue with the procedure,” the doctor said trying to look and sound professional but he was heartbroken for me and I could see it.

“Avery…” Ashley whispered but I raised my hands to stop her from speaking any further,” I didn't need her or any other person's pity, It would totally shatter me.

“Did you have any serious injuries around your abdomen recently?” The doctor asked, trying to get to the root of the matter.

“I was attacked by a rogue wolf and injured badly, I was found unconscious and half dead, by the time I regained consciousness my wounds had already healed so I wouldn't know,” I replied quickly, afraid my voice would break if I spoke any slower.

“I see,” the doctor said, adjusting his glasses and looking at what I presumed were my test results.

“Is there a cure for this?” Avery asked, she held my hands more tightly and looked hopefully at the doctor.

In so many ways I was grateful for that question, firstly because it gave me some kind of hope and secondly because it was a question I was too afraid to ask myself, fearing that the answer would be negative.

“Well there are some advanced medications that could be administered but that would mean she cannot abort this child,” the doctor said, looking at me as if waiting for a decision.

“Would you be willing to attempt it?” The doctor asked, implying that a positive result may not be achieved.

“Yes,” Ashley and I said in unison, I didn't know why I cared since I was already rejected but I still had some hope I guess.

“Please sign here to cancel your request for an abortion procedure,” the doctor said handing me a document that needed my signature.

I signed and we fixed a date for another consultation concerning my treatment, with that being done we left the clinic.

“Are you okay?” Ashley asked as I let out a deep breath.

“I don't know,” I said honestly, the days of my crying uncontrollably at bad situations were over.

Bad things will always happen and I was slowly learning how to face them with my head held high.

“What do I do?” I asked Ashley, my life was far from organized, and I couldn't bring a baby into this disaster.

“Let's get home first,” she said as we walked home in silence, the clinic wasn't very far from our house.

“Please drink some water,” Ashley said as she poured two glasses of water and handed one to me while she gulped down the other.

“Now tell me how you feel,” she said sitting across me on the dining table.

“I don't feel utterly useless anymore but I just don't know how to handle this situation, especially with the baby coming and my lack of stability,” I explained, hoping those few words would translate the series of thoughts I was having.

“Hmmm...I understand,” Ashley said and was quiet for some time.

“Everything that happened was in the past you will first have to accept that, only then can you move towards the future,” she said looking more serious than I had ever since before.

“All I care about right now is my health and the survival of my baby,” I replied truthfully, hoping she had a solution for me.

“Raise this child and make him or her successful,” Ashley suddenly said with a smile as if she had an idea.

“It's going to be a hard road but I will give you all the help you need, I could get you a job, you and the baby will live with us and we can raise strong children as sisters, what do you say?” Ashley asked, she was offering me help and lifelong support, how could I possibly refuse?

“How can I ever repay you?” I said as tears streamed down my face.

“By being my sister,” she responded and we hugged, it was all tears, hugs, and plans for the next few hours.

I wasn't sure of the future but I was going to try to make it better than my past.