Lily's POV

"Lily, it'll be okay," Jen says softly, squeezing my hand. Her eyes are full of concern, but her voice is steady. Kam sits on my other side, nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, we got you, girl," Kam reassures, her tone firm. I nod absently, my eyes fixed on the sterile white walls of the maternity wing. The smell of antiseptic and the faint beeping of monitors fill the silence between us, a stark reminder of where I am and what's about to happen.

My phone vibrates in my hand, and I glance down to see Finn's name flashing across the screen. I hesitate for a moment before pressing decline, sending his call straight to voicemail. Almost immediately, it beeps again—a text this time. I don't even bother to look at it.

"I can't deal with him, not now," I mutter under my breath, my voice barely audible. Jen gives my hand another reassuring squeeze.

"It's okay, Lily. Take all the time you need."

I've been avoiding Finn for days. Every time he asks if I'm okay, I feel the dam inside me crack a little more. I hate that I'm pushing him away, making him worry, but I can't bear to face his concern right now—not when I'm barely keeping it together myself.

"Guys, do you mind turning your phones on Do Not Disturb?" I ask, my voice a little firmer now. "I just know Finn will try to call you guys too, and I can't deal with the anxiety right now."

"Of course," Kam says, immediately switching her phone to silent. Jen follows suit with a nod. They both know how on edge I am, how close I am to losing it.

A nurse steps into the waiting area, her expression neutral but kind. "Miss Garcia?"

I swallow hard and nod. "That's me."

Kam and Jen stand with me, their hands on my shoulders, guiding me through the hallway. Every step feels like I'm walking through quicksand, my feet heavy, my heart even heavier.

We reach the examination room, and the nurse directs me to lie down on the bed. I shift nervously, my fingers clenching the thin, scratchy fabric of the hospital gown. The cold gel squirts onto my stomach, making me flinch. It's so cold it's almost numbing, but that doesn't stop the fear from creeping up my spine.

My gaze is glued to the monitor next to me, the black screen a void of the unknown. My heart is pounding so hard that I'm sure the nurse can hear it. She moves the ultrasound wand over my stomach, her eyes focused on the screen.

Kam and Jen are on either side of me, their faces pale, their breaths held. I wish I could just fast-forward to the end of this moment, to the part where I know everything will be okay. But that's not how this works.

"Just breathe, Lily," Jen whispers, though I can hear the tremble in her voice.

I nod, forcing myself to inhale deeply, even though every breath feels like shards of glass in my lungs. I close my eyes for a moment, trying to ground myself, to push back the waves of anxiety threatening to pull me under.

The nurse's face softens, and she turns the monitor toward me. "You're about seven weeks pregnant, Lily," she says gently. "Look here—that's your baby."

I blink at the screen, my brain struggling to make sense of the tiny shape in front of me. It's so small, barely more than a flicker. My baby. The word slams into me like a truck, and I feel tears well up in my eyes.

Kam lets out a soft gasp, her hand flying to her mouth. "Oh my God," she breathes, her eyes wide with awe.

Jen's grip on my hand tightens to the point of pain, but I don't mind. I need that pain, that connection to something real. My world is spinning, everything tilting wildly.

"That's... my baby," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "... Finn and I's baby" It doesn't feel real, and yet, there it is—a tiny being flickering on the screen, so fragile and yet so strong.

"Yes," the nurse says kindly, her smile warm. "It's still early, but everything looks good. Your baby is right where it should be."

I can't take my eyes off the screen. My baby. The reality of it crashes down on me, a mix of fear and joy and something else I can't even name. I'm overwhelmed, the emotions tangling together, threatening to drown me.

The nurse removes the wand and wipes the gel off my stomach. "Would you like to hear the heartbeat?"

I nod, barely able to speak, and she adjusts a few settings on the machine. A moment later, the sound fills the room—soft and rapid, like a tiny drum beating just for me. The sound wraps around me, and for a moment, everything else fades away.

The nurse gently removes the wand from my stomach and wipes away the gel. She gives me a soft, understanding smile, and I can tell she's done this a thousand times before. She sees the confusion in my eyes, the uncertainty written all over my face.

"There are options available to you, Lily," she says, her voice gentle but direct. "If you want to continue with the pregnancy, we can provide you with all the support and care you'll need. But if you're unsure, it's okay to take your time to think about it. Whatever decision you make, we're here to help."

My heart clenches at her words. Options. I knew this moment would come but hearing it out loud makes it all too real. I feel Kam's hand tighten around mine, grounding me, keeping me from spiralling.

"I...I need to think," I manage to whisper, my voice barely there. The emotions are too much, too tangled. I can't make sense of any of it.

The nurse nods, her expression soft and patient. "That's perfectly fine, Lily. Take all the time you need. If you have any questions or need to talk, you can always come back, okay?"

I nod numbly, feeling a fresh wave of tears building behind my eyes. "Thank you," I whisper, not trusting myself to say more without breaking down completely.

Kam and Jen help me sit up, and I feel their strength surrounding me, a silent promise that they're here, no matter what. The three of us stand up, and I feel unsteady on my feet, like the ground is shifting beneath me.

As we leave the examination room, the sterile smell of the hospital fills my senses, and I feel like I can finally breathe again, even if just a little. We walk down the hallway, the echo of our footsteps the only sound. The weight of the decision ahead feels like it's pressing down on my shoulders, threatening to crush me.

Once we're outside, the fresh air hits my face, and I take a deep breath, trying to clear my head. But the knot in my chest doesn't loosen. I turn to Jen and Kam, who are watching me with worried expressions.

"I need to talk to Finn," I say quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. The words hang in the air between us, heavy and unavoidable. "He deserves to know... and I can't make this decision without him."

Kam nods, her eyes soft with understanding. "You're right. He needs to know."

Jen reaches out and squeezes my arm gently. "We'll be here, no matter what you decide. But you're not alone in this, Lily. Remember that."

I nod, tears finally spilling over as I look between my two best friends. I don't know what's going to happen next, but I know I need to face it head-on. Finn has to know, and we have to decide together what comes next.

"Thank you," I manage to say, my voice choked with emotion. "I don't know what I'd do without you guys."

"You'll never have to find out," Kam says firmly, pulling me into a hug. "We're in this together, no matter what."

"Good," Jen says, forcing a smile. "Let's get some food. There's a café around the corner."

I nod, knowing she's trying to help, but I can't shake the numbness spreading through my body. The nurse's words echo in my mind—options, decisions. It's like the walls are closing in, the weight of everything pressing down on me. I don't even know how I'm standing upright.

We make our way to the café in silence, each step feeling heavier than the last. The bell above the door jingles as we walk in, and the scent of coffee and freshly baked pastries fills the air. Normally, this place would be a comfort, but today it's just another reminder that life goes on, even when mine feels like it's falling apart.

We order some food and find a seat by the window. I stir my soup without really eating, my stomach twisting into knots. Kam and Jen try to fill the silence with light conversation, but I can barely hear them. My thoughts are a tangled mess, looping back to one thing: I need to talk to Finn.

After what feels like an eternity, I push my bowl away. "I need to call Finn," I say, my voice shaky and uncertain.

Kam and Jen both nod, understanding without needing an explanation. "Take your time, Lily," Kam says softly. "We're here for you."

I nod, grabbing my phone and heading outside. The cold air hits my face, a stark contrast to the stifling atmosphere inside the café. Across the street is a small park, the trees swaying gently in the breeze. It's quiet, a perfect place for the conversation I'm about to have.

I stand on the curb, looking both ways before crossing the street. As I make my way to the park, I turn on my phone. The screen lights up with three missed facetime video calls and five missed calls from Finn and a message that makes my heart twist.

Lovebug: Baby, where are you? Are you okay? Please answer me. I'm worried.

A lump forms in my throat as I read his words. He must be freaking out. I can't avoid him any longer. I hit the call button and press the phone to my ear, my hand trembling.

The phone barely rings once before he picks up, his voice frantic and breathless.

"Where are you" he starts, but I can hear the fear in his voice. It cuts through me like a knife.

"Finn, I—" I begin, but he doesn't let me finish.

"Lily, I'm at your apartment. Where. Are. You." His words are rushed, frantic, almost desperate. I can hear the tremor in his voice, and it sends a wave of panic crashing over me.

"Finn, what's going on? Why are you at my apartment?" I ask, my voice tight with worry. But he doesn't answer.

"DAMMIT LILY, WHERE ARE YOU?!" he shouts, and I flinch at his tone. He has never once raised his voice at me. There's something in his tone, something that makes my heart race even faster.

"Babe, I'm at Linda's Café. What's going – " I start as I step off the curb to cross the street. But before I can finish, a loud, ear-piercing screech cuts through the air.

Time slows to a crawl. I turn my head just in time to see the blinding headlights of a car hurtling toward me, too fast, too close. My breath catches in my throat, and for a split second, everything goes silent.

I don't even have time to scream.

The impact is brutal, a violent force that knocks the breath from my lungs and sends me flying through the air. Pain explodes in my body as I crash onto the pavement, skidding to a halt. The world spins wildly around me, the sky and ground blurring together in a dizzying whirl.

Screams echo around me, sharp and panicked, but they sound far away, like I'm hearing them through a tunnel. My phone is lying on the ground next to me, and through the haze, I hear Finn's voice, frantic and desperate.

"LILY, WHAT HAPPENED?! LILY! ANSWER ME! PLEASE!"

I try to move, try to reach for the phone, but my body won't respond. My vision blurs, dark edges creeping in as my strength drains away. I'm losing the fight to stay conscious, the darkness pulling me under.

I see my blood pooling on the ground, bright red against the grey pavement. Finn's voice is a distant echo now, almost drowned out by the rushing in my ears.

The last thing I see is a hazy figure getting out of the car and walking towards me. I somewhat recognize him—it's the gruff man who bumped me outside my office.

He lowers enough for me to hear him, "This is for Rachel," he smirks before walking away.

I feel cold, so unbearably cold, and my eyes start to close despite my desperate attempt to keep them open.

"F..Finn" I whisper, my voice barely a breath. I don't even know if he can hear me.

The pain dulls, replaced by a heavy numbness. My thoughts drift to the heartbeat on the screen, to the life that's supposed to be growing inside me.

And then, there's nothing but darkness.

*******

Author's Note 

Hope you're still reading and enjoying the final chapters of Tangled Hearts !!! 

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