Chapter 4

Ava opened her eyes gradually, feeling disoriented. She fluttered a few times to become accustomed to the brightness of the room, and her thoughts raced through her mind.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment, trying to recollect her thoughts.

Where am I? She mumbled.

Her thoughts were quickly distracted by the sound of approaching footsteps.

The door opened, and she felt her heart catch in her throat as a young man entered the room.

A gentle smile spread across his face as he greeted Ava.

“I see you are awake,” he said, and Ava raised her eyebrows.

“You are at the college clinic, and I am Dr. Mark.” He went on to explain the circumstances of Ava's arrival.

“You passed out at the college and were brought here by the administrators and a close friend,”

he said.

Dr. Mark asked Ava how she was feeling, and she responded that she was feeling fine.

“I just have a slight headache,” she said, “but since I passed out, I can leave now. I have to go to class anyway.”

“Before you leave, I've got some good news for you.” Dr. Mark mentioned.

As Ava struggled to get up, Lily entered the room, having been waiting impatiently at the door. Her eyes lit up as she saw Lily.

“Ava, I'm so glad you're back! I was scared. I didn't think I could come in because the doctor told me you were asleep. How are you feeling now?” asked Lily.

Ava said she felt better now that Lily was there with her.

“So, doctor, what did you want to tell me?” Ava asked.

Dr. Mark paused for a moment, a mixture of joy and unease on his face.

Lily cuts in, “Doctor, before I came in, you said you had something important to tell me when Ava woke up. What's the matter?”

“I'm uncertain if this is the right time to tell you, but I'm going to have to.” Dr. Mark sighed,

Ava's heart throbbed faster.

She couldn't withstand the doctor's silence.

“Congratulations to you, you are a week pregnant”. Dr. Mark eventually let the cat out of the bag.

Ava was speechless when Dr. Mark told her the news. “I can't be pregnant, it's not possible,” she said, shaking her head.

Lily asked, “Are you certain?”

“Kindly see for yourself?” Dr. Mark handed her the test results.

Ava took them from Lily's hand, her eyes widened as she read the test results.

Her heart sank into her stomach, but she refused to let it show on her face.

Her lips twitched a bit, but she pressed them together, fighting back the tears.

“It's impossible, I can't be pregnant,” she said.

Tears began to flow down her cheeks, and Lily clapped her on the back; Ava brushed it off.

She wondered how she had ended up pregnant, and why it had happened to her.

She regretted ever accepting Lily's offer and now saw the results of her one night stand.

Not only that, but she wished she could turn back the clock, but it was too late. How could she have been so careless and made such mistakes?

She tried not to think about what her aunt would say when she found out. There was a moment of awkward silence before Dr. Mark asked,

“Can you please tell me what's going on, so I can help you?”.

Ava was speechless, unable to form a word.

Uncontrollable tears began to flow from her already red eyes, and her thoughts became clouded.

At that moment, she wished for the world to just open up and swallow her.

“There's always a solution. Talk to me, girls. You know if the school finds out about this, you'd be automatically evicted.” Dr. Mark said,

“If it's to terminate the pregnancy, I can help you to do whatever it is, so you can at least write your final exams.” He added.

“No, doctor, I want to go home,” Ava said, turning to face Lily.

“Can we go now?” Lily asked Dr. Mark.

“Sure. I'll give you the medication you need to feel better. Remember, you can always rely on me if you make a change of heart.” Dr. Mark commented before he vacated the room.

The ride back home was as quiet as a graveyard. Even if Ava tried to control her tears, she was vulnerable.

The college's director was the last person either of them wanted to encounter. Or, even worse, any of the pupils, given that the word of Ava puking in the class had already spread like wildfire.

______

On her bed, Ava was staring out the window. Every morning, when she got out of bed, she hoped it was all just a dream.

“I made your go-to!” Lily exclaims.

She sat down next to Ava on her bed and left a tray of chicken soup and a chilled glass of juice by Ava's desk.

Ava turned away from the food, a disgusted expression on her face.

“No, not today, Ava.” You can't keep living this way.” Lily stated.

Ava had gone three days without eating anything. She'd end up throwing if she ever tried to eat.

Ava's spirit had been lowered before it was confirmed that she was pregnant.

It also affected Lily because she couldn't bear seeing her friend in such a sad state. They've both been absent from school.

“Ava, pay attention.” Lily snatched Ava's hands and clasped them tightly.

“Everything will be alright. We'll make it through this together. You are not by yourself. You've got me…and the doctor. Yes! Let's go check him out," the doctor said

“I'd rather not," Ava muttered.

“Ava, you must stop acting this way. You should visit Doctor Mark. More than ever, you require his assistance. I find it intolerable to see you in this predicament”. Lily expressed concern for Ava.

Ava didn't speak. Lily was correct.

She needs medical assistance.

Ava had an inner thought.

Ava and Lily got up early the next morning to avoid running into any other students or lecturers.

They both headed to the college clinic. Ava thought about what assistance the doctor might be able to provide as she pulled slowly behind her friend Lily.

She could never agree to abort her child. What other way could he possibly assist?

The words replayed in her mind as they rambled into the doctor's office.