10. Talia

The room felt like it was spinning the moment I sat down. Trying to blink my eyes I looked around and everything was still blurry. What was happening to me? My head felt heavy as I try to open my mouth. The beads of sweat rolled down my forehead. As I tried to bring my hands to my face I noticed they were clammy and cold. 

With my head tilted up, I tried not to stay at anything in particular. Clutching the bedpost I tried to slowly stand on my feet, the intensity of the pain increased. Swallowing the bitter taste in my mouth I could feel nausea rushing to my throat. Unable to hold myself any longer I ran towards the bathroom, not caring if I slip in between and land on my face.

As my fingers closed at the handle of the door I was successful. Pushing the door open I stumbled inside and emptied all the contents of my stomach. The heaving sounds made my earring so I clutched them tightly.

"Oh...god..." I moaned wiping at my mouth. The heaviness in my chest felt a little better as I pushed my face up. Staring in the mirror a gasp slipped out of my lips. The person standing in front of me was almost unrecognisable. My shirt was stained with my stomach contents which gross. I sighed noticing my lips. They were red and swollen just like my eyes. I could feel my nose running and my cheeks were blotched. The sweat was everywhere on my face, making my hair cling on to the side. What was happening to me? 

It must be those shrimps I ate in Mira's house. But it was almost two weeks ago. How would that affect me now? I grimly thought dabbing at my tears. Sometimes I felt like crying for no reason at all. This was one of those moments. 

Sniffing I splashed some cold water on my face, scrubbing my cheeks to get rid of the puffiness. 

"Maybe I need to lie down," I thought to myself and walked towards the bedroom. The ticking sound of the clock made me aware that I have to get to work soon. My legs felt jelly as I tried to walk, the weakness taking over my body and making each step wobbly. 

There was no one to take care of me really. At the age of twenty-three I should accept that fact and get on with life but it was difficult. My dad did not try to contact me ever since I left the house. It's like he forgot he had a daughter which should be good for me. He was never there for anything anyways. The moments where I felt sick was always haunting because I remembered my past and could not help but miss my parents. Those were some of the days I could never forget because we were a happy family. 

Shaking my head I pulled the covers over my body and deeply sighed. Atleast I had a warm bed, something I should be thankful for.
***

My eyes fluttered open when I heard the sound from the kitchen. The heaviness in my head was completely gone and I felt better than before. As the clattering sound echoed around my eyes widened. Did someone break into my house? The thought made me sit up immediately. Maybe I was imagining things again as I did with those three of them. 

Still, my eyes wandered around the room looking for my phone. There was a good chance that I was not hallucinating because the smell of something cooking hit my nose. It was coming from my kitchen which was concerning. 

As I did not find my phone nearby I slowly slid out of the bed and picked the alarm clock in my hand. It was tiny but quite heavy which will do enough harm for that thief.

Raising on my hunches I tried to make no sound, quietly inching toward the kitchen. I was aware that I was risking myself but I did not have a phone nearby so it was the only way. 

When I peeked inside the kitchen, the fight left my shoulders noticing that it was Jackson. Why was he making so much noise?

Jackson yelped as he turned around, clutching his chest when he noticed me. I shushed him. 

"What the fuck?" 

"I should say that" I grumbled making my way inside the kitchen. When I noticed the huge bowl on the side along with some crackers my face broke out in a smile. He was making chicken soup for me. 

"Did you make that?" 

Jackson hummed, "I was until you scared me with that alarm clock" 

I sheepishly smiled, placing the clock on the counter and rested my back against the counter. He was even wearing an apron which made me shake my head. 

"Seriously though alarm clock?" He questioned again, his eyes shifting towards the clock and me. I shrugged in response because that's the only thing I had nearby which could cause serious harm. 

"How did you know that I was sick?" I questioned, picking a cracker from the plate. He pushed it away from my hand which made my nose scrunch. Didn't he bring those for me? 

When I tried to reach for another he handed me a glass of water, "You need to drink water first"

I huffed, taking a long sip. 

"Happy?" 

"Very" 

Rolling my eyes I asked him again, "How did you know I was sick?"

"When you lifted the call earlier you mumbled something I couldn't understand so I came here to check on you. Then I noticed your stained shirt on the floor so I figured" 

My cheeks claimed as I forgot to throw the shirt in the machine. 

"Sorry" 

He scoffed, "What are you sorry for? People get sick you know." 

I rolled my eyes at his tone, lips pressed together, "Fine I won't apologize ever" 

"Oh, how will I live without your infamous apologies?" 

"Idiot" I hid a smile behind the glass.
***

After having my lunch which was made by my best friend I decided to take a day off from work. He talked with the manager and explained to him the condition I was in. The librarian huffed something under her breath for a few seconds but decided to grant me the leave.

There was no way I was going to lie down in the bed all day so I decided to watch Netflix. He used his account on my TV but made no comment about it which was a relief. 

A few hours later I threw up again which made Jackson concerned enough to book an appointment with the clinic. He would not take my word for it. 

"Don't worry about it"

"I am worried because you are making such a big deal out of it" 

He made a face, "That's what you are worried about? Talia, you have been throwing up non stop since morning. We need to get you to the hospital" 

"Not nonstop" I grumbled under my breath. Okay maybe he was right about going to the hospital but I did not want to spend money on unnecessary medicines. 

"Eight times is non stop for me" 

"You're so annoying" 

Jackson grinned, "Thank you. Now let's go"

When we entered inside the clinic, the lady was kind enough to rush us before anyone else because of course Jackson's influence. It felt wrong to do that.

The doctor asked me for the blood and urine samples while Jackson waited outside the entire time. He was sweet that way. For some reason, I was nervous about the entire thing because hospitals scared me. They have never been kind to me. 

"We are done here" The doctor smiled as she forwarded me her hand to step down. 

"Umm...so? Is everything fine?" 

She hummed, "Don't worry it's just nausea. Happens sometimes but I still got your samples for checking." 

"Great! Does that mean I can leave now?" 

She laughed, "You don't seem too fond of this place" 

My lips pursed at that and I shrugged, "Well can you blame me?"

"No" 

"Thanks again" 

"No problem. You'll receive a message tomorrow of the results. Till then make sure you are following the medication"

I tightly clenched my fingers on the file and nodded my head, "Sure"
***

Jackson was kind enough to drop me off after the trip back from the hospital. My stomach was in knots, waiting for the result but I manage to distract myself by watching the Netflix series all by myself. Jackson had made some bread toast and tomato soup for dinner so I heated that up. 

The next morning I woke up and searched for my phone. It was tangled in between the sheets. As I noticed the message symbol on the screen with the hospital number I sighed. 

Opening the message my eyes widened at the particular words staring back at me.

Congratulations Miss Talia! You are pregnant. 
***