Chapter 51

I hear muffled voices all around me, but don't know who they belong to. I try to open my eyes but they don't open. Why does it take so much effort to wake up?

And so I lay there, trying to move my arms but they don't cooperate. I want to just touch my belly, tell my baby that we're okay.

It seems like the sheet that covered my eyes has been lifted, because I can now open them.

The vision before me is blurry beyond recognition, but I can make out three figures. Then, one moves. "Hey, she's awake!"

Janet becomes clear as she walks up to me, giving me a small smile.

"How are you doing baby?" She asks.

"I really don't know. Where am I? What happened?"

"You were rushed to the hospital after you got hit by a car."

I look to the analog clock that reads 3:04. Memories and images of last night slowly come back to me.

I look back at Janet. "Where's Michael? Is he okay?"

"He's okay, well. I guess so. He nearly died when you did."

I frown at her. "Excuse me?"

"Lon, you flatlined for like a minute, and Michael lost all control. Marlon had to pull him out of the room. He cried out for you, girl."

I sigh softly. "Where is he?" I ask again.

"Outside," another voice that isn't Janet's says, and Marlon focuses in my vision. "I didn't want him to go haywire again."

Then he smiles at me. "You're a strong, strong woman. The doctor said that no one that was in your condition would've survived the night. You did though."

"Wow," I say inaudibly.

"Marlon's right. You are a living miracle, my dear," The doctor agrees. "How are you feeling?"

"Now that you ask," I answer, "I can't move my body. What's wrong with me?"

"Ms. Cade, you have several broken bones. Your left arm and your right femur. You may feel some pain soon, the pain medicine will be wearing off."

I close my eyes after I look down to see my arm in a sling and my leg wrapped. "Oh, well. At least my baby's safe and sound." I can't help but smile.

But there's an unsettling silence in the room. No one responds to the comment I made. I open my eyes again.

"Um, my baby's safe and sound. Right?"

Still, nothing.

My heart clenches with fear and I remember the exact moment I discovered this pregnancy. I would be a wreck if I lost my baby.

Flashback..

I sat on the floor of the bathroom, alone. Michael had gone to the studio again and I was very scared. And alone.

I made the prior decision that if Michael didn't want the baby, I would care for the baby. I have this responsibility.

I don't know why I didn't think Michael wanted the baby. I wasn't thinking.

I refused to look, even after I knew the minute was up. Oh my god, this will change my life. A child?

I was scared that this was happening too soon. Of course I didn't think I was ready. And my situation wasn't really helping. I suspect that my boyfriend, the potential father, is cheating on me. How great.

I must've sat there for an hour, scared to open my eyes and view my future. Then, I couldn't wait any longer. I saw it. The two pink lines.

I cried forcefully, without end it seemed. There could never be such a perfect example of mixed emotions.

~

Remembering that life-changing morning brings tears to my eyes even now, but I can't wipe them. I can't move.

Why I can't move? I am slowly starting to feel more and more pain, and there's another reason.

"Please, somebody answer me," I plead. "Someone tell me that my baby is okay."

I look at Janet, but she won't meet my eyes.

"Please!" I scream.

That must've set things off. The pain has become unbearable within less than a minute, and I black out.

--

Michael's POV

I've been pacing around this damn waiting room for over an hour. My whole family is out here, but Janet says that we shouldn't overwhelm Alondra by all of us coming in to see her at once.

My baby. She's in there. I haven't seen her in four hours, I calculate, looking at the clock.

Is she okay? Has she asked about me? I shake my head almost instantly.

Of course she hadn't asked for me. And why would she? I said probably the most dense and idiotic thing I've ever said, and to her of all people. Such a royal screwup.

I rub my face and kept walking about, my loafers silencing as I walk across the edge of the carpet, and back on the tile where you can hear the sound again.

"Michael." It's my mother. It had been absolutely quiet for the longest time, so even Mother's soft-spoken voice is like a spear cutting through the air of the room.

I stop in my tracks and gaze at her. "Yes Mother?"

"You have been pacing for two hours, honey. Sit down."

"You try seeing the love of your life literally dead in front of you and then brought back to life, I'm sure you would be pacing too." I snap, then immediately feel submerged in guilt.

"Oh, Mother. I'm so sorry for my attitude, but this is honestly the worst day of my life."

"Come on over here Michael." She pats the seat invitingly and I sit down next to her without hesitation.

"Mother, I'm such a failure. This is my fault. Because of what I said, she ran. She would've been better off without even knowing me."

"Now that's a lie and we both know that. She does too."

I bury my face in my hands. "What if they didn't get her back after she flatlined? What would've happened?"

"But they did, son. And that miracle should tell you something." Mother says.

I know she's right. When is she wrong? Never.

"But Mother. How do I even begin to fix this? I'm in such a mess. I don't have the slightest clue how I can start and clean this up."

"Mr. Jackson." A throat clears and I divert my glance from my mother and to the voice.

I jump up too quickly when I see the doctor, my head dizzy and spinning, but despite that I rush over to him.

"Doctor, how is she?" I question with deep concern.

"Good news or bad news first,sir?" He asks quietly.

"I could really use some good news right now."

"Okay. Well, the good news is that Ms. Cade has suffered a few broken bones, but they should be healed in about six months."

Damn. That's good news? I really don't want to hear the bad news. My poor sweetheart.

"And," I gulp, "the bad news is?"

"Alondra flatlined, as you know sir, and she is having some heart complications. She needs surgery."

"Oh. Well, if you could give us a few days--"

I stop speaking as the doctor shakes his head from side to side.

"There's no time, sir. If we don't operate on her right now, this morning, then she will most likely lose her life. And her child."

I choke on air and gape at him.

Child?

--

Chapter 51

Are you all surprised it was Alondra??

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~Joy ✌️