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𝐆𝐎𝐃'𝐒 𝐆𝐈𝐅𝐓

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Sunshine sat on the hospital bed, her legs dangling off the edge of the exam table as she stared at the stark white curtain that separated her from the other patients. The sharp, relentless pain had subsided since they'd given her pain medication, but the nausea still lingered.

Her mother and father sat nearby in stiff chairs, their faces drawn with concern. The silence in the small, curtained-off space felt suffocating, broken only by the faint beeps of machines and the distant murmurs of hospital staff.

They waited in uneasy quiet until a doctor finally pushed through the curtain holding a clipboard, a hurried look on her face. "Sorry to keep you waiting," she said, her tone brisk but not unkind as she walked over to Sunshine, immediately directing her attention to her stomach. "Are you currently experiencing any abdominal pain?"

Sunshine shook her head. "No, not anymore. I just... feel sick." Her voice was quiet, almost apologetic, as if the nausea were a burden she shouldn't be admitting to.

The doctor nodded, setting down the clipboard and prepping the sonogram machine. "Have you had any procedures recently?" she asked casually, turning on the device.

A sudden panic fluttered in Sunshine's chest. She glanced at her father, knowing full well he had no idea what she was about to reveal. Her eyes then darted to her mother, seeking some sort of permission or reassurance. Vivien gave a subtle nod, urging her daughter to speak.

"I, uh..." Sunshine stammered, her hands nervously gripping the thin hospital blanket draped over her. "I took the abortion pill two weeks ago."

Ben's face contorted in confusion, his eyes darting to Vivien. "What?" he asked, his voice rising in both disbelief and hurt.

"Ben," Vivien warned softly, her tone pleading for patience. 

The doctor, unfazed by the family tension, continued with a professional nod as she prepared the ultrasound. "Okay. And how far along were you when you took the pills?"

Sunshine swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. "The doctor said nine weeks."

"Well, the pills aren't always 100% effective," the doctor explained matter-of-factly. "There's a chance you could still be pregnant, though it could just be gas. Let's take a look to be sure."

Sunshine laid back on the bed, her dress already hiked up to reveal her stomach, the blanket modestly covering her lower half. She watched in dread as the doctor squirted the cold ultrasound gel onto her abdomen and pressed the probe against her skin.

The room felt like it had shrunk as the doctor scanned her belly. The rhythmic hum of the machine filled the silence, but Sunshine's mind was racing, her breath shallow. She stared at the ceiling, trying to hold onto some thread of calm, but everything felt surreal.

The doctor's face scrunched in concentration, her eyes fixed on the screen. "And you're certain about the timeline?" she asked, glancing at Sunshine.

"I... I think so. Nine weeks." Sunshine's voice cracked slightly. She had no idea how any of this was happening, but the doctor at Planned Parenthood had been clear. She should be eleven weeks by now if the pregnancy had persisted.

But the doctor's expression was growing more concerned as she moved the probe across Sunshine's stomach. "I see the fetus, but... the baby looks much bigger than it should at this stage," she murmured, her voice tinged with confusion.

Sunshine's heart sank. Still pregnant? How could this be? Her mind spiraled. The abortion had failed. This wasn't normal. None of this was normal. The immaculate conception, the strange occurrences... something beyond her control was taking over.

The doctor's eyes suddenly widened, her face draining of color as she stared at the ultrasound screen, transfixed by something on the monitor. A flash of fear rippled across her features.

A cold dread washed over Sunshine. "Is... is everything okay?"

Before the doctor could respond, her body went rigid, and then, without warning, she collapsed, hitting the floor with a sickening thud.

"Oh my god!" Vivien gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as she stared at the unconscious doctor in horror.

Ben jumped up from his chair, rushing to the doctor's side before standing up and moving toward the curtain. "I'm going to get help," 

Sunshine remained frozen, her wide eyes darting between the doctor sprawled on the floor and the sonogram machine. 

What did she see? 

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Sunshine lay curled on her side in her room, her fingers gently cradling her cheek as she gazed blankly at the wall. It felt like an eternity since she'd come home. She replayed the events of the past few weeks over and over, each thought dragging her deeper into a pit of despair.

Planned Parenthood had offered to perform another procedure for free, a second chance at escaping this unexpected reality, but part of her felt it was pointless. It was as if fate had already laid its claim on her. 

God, it seemed, intended for her to carry this child. Sunshine felt her grip on reality slipping, spiraling into what she could only describe as a spiritual psychosis. Nothing made sense anymore.

Was there truly a hell? Would she be condemned for her attempt to end what had now become a divine burden? And what about Tate and Violet—did they dwell in some limbo, caught between heaven and hell, forever lingering in a world that felt just out of reach?

She had never been opposed to having children; in fact, she had always envisioned a future where motherhood would be a joy rather than a shackle. But now, at seventeen, with dreams shimmering like distant stars, those aspirations felt like dust scattering in the wind.

Sunshine's hand slipped down to cradle her stomach, the slight bump she had tried to ignore now undeniable. This was real. There was a baby growing inside of her—a magic baby, as absurd as that sounded.

"Who's the dad?"

The voice pierced through her thoughts, drawing her attention to the doorway. 

"Not now, Violet," Sunshine sighed, closing her eyes in a futile attempt to block out the reality of the situation. 

How could she even begin to answer that question? The thought of telling Tate—her now boyfriend—that she was pregnant, and not by him, felt like a confession that could shatter everything. Oh, by the way, I'm having a baby that isn't yours, but it isn't anyone else's either. She imagined the look on his face, the confusion and disbelief.

"Is it Tate's?" Violet pressed, inching further into the room.

"God, Violet, no!" Sunshine snapped, a wave of frustration washing over her as she sat up.

"Are you keeping it?" 

Without thinking, Sunshine sprang to her feet, grasping her sister's shoulders gently yet firmly, and guided her back toward the door before shutting it, locking her sister out.

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