One hour earlier.

Jessica laid on the examination table waiting for the doctor. She rested her hands over her stomach and closed her eyes.

"I feel good about this. I've been sick, my boobs are sore.. I feel okay." She thinks yo herself.

The doctor walks in and asks Jessica to lift her shirt.

He felt around her belly and asked when her last period was. Jessica answered and he took out a heart doppler.

He moved it around and Jessica noticed concern in his face.

"What's wrong?" She asks.

"I don't hear a heartbeat, but you may just be too early in your pregnancy to hear it. Don't worry. I'm going to do an ultrasound to ease your mind."

"Thank you."

Jessica's heart was racing. She suddenly went from feeling pretty good, to feeling like she couldn't even breathe.

He scanned her belly and they saw nothing.
Jessica squinted her eyes and the doctor said, "Mrs. Huston.. I'm sorry to say this, but you're not pregnant."

"What? But-but I've been sick, I've had so many symptoms.. I feel pregnant, that's not possible!"

The doctor wipes Jessica's stomach off and tells her to sit up.

"Mrs. Huston, what I think you have is Pseudocyesis."

"What's that?"

"False pregnancy.  It's where a woman has all of the signs of pregnancy.  Nausea, weight gain, tenderness in her breasts, swollen abdomen and even sometimes fetal movement."

Jessica was so confused and didn't even know what to say.

"Pseudocyesis is a psychological illness.  It happens when a woman has an intense desire to become pregnant.  The woman's brain then misinterprets those signals as pregnancy, and triggers the release of hormones, such as estrogen and prolactin that lead to actual pregnancy symptoms."

"So this is all in my head?
What you're really saying is that I'm crazy."

"No!  You're not crazy, Mrs. Huston.  I want to recommend a psychiatrist.  She's very good and I think she'd be perfect for you."

"A psychiatrist?"

"Well yes, to help you cope with this.  Pseudocyesis is a very difficult thing to have.  When your brain thinks your body is pregnant, then you find out that you're not, it's like a loss for most women."

Jessica just stares at him with no expression.

"Here's her number.  Again, I am so so sorry.  I wish you the best, Mrs. Huston."

Jessica nods with tears forming in her eyes and takes the number.

***

"Baby, what's wrong?" Danny asks holding her in his arms.

"Is the baby okay?"

"Danny, there is no baby."

"We lost it? 
Oh Jess, I am so sorry you had to go alone!"

"There never was a baby, Danny!"

"What?"

"I have something called Pseudocyesis."

"What is that?"

"It means that I'm fucking psychotic!"

"What?"

"It means false pregnancy!  Danny, I was never pregnant.. I wanted a baby so badly that I'm making myself go crazy!  My body started having symptoms of pregnancy, I even gained weight.  I've done some things that some would say makes me crazy, but this fucking tops everything!"

"No Jess, you're not crazy."

"Danny, how did this happen?! 
.. I was so happy.. Oh God, I was so happy!" Jessica cries.

"and now it's gone.. Danny, I want a baby so bad!"

"Sweetheart, I know." Danny pulls her to his body and she sobs into his chest.

"I'm so sorry, Danny!"

"No baby, don't be sorry.. Please please don't be sorry."

"I know you want a baby.. I'm sorry I can't give you one."

"Jessie, it's okay, sweetie.  Making a baby takes two people, so don't blame yourself.  Please!"

***
I'm sorry to everyone that was so excited 😬😘