𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝

Chapter Thirty-One

B E L L A M Y

The following weeks were quiet, but I felt myself getting more tired every day.

Fear of my returning depression kept me in a terrible mood, and I snapped at almost everyone. Maybe it was a good idea to call my therapist, see if she had some tips for me.

I really wanted to stay off medication, so maybe if I got it treated early, I would be good.

I just had to fight through this day at work.

"What's up with you?" Kelly asked, and I felt tears behind my eyes. Oh, god. Definitely time to call my therapist.

"I feel like shit."

Her look softened, and after she handed the only customer in the shop their coffee, she walked up to me.

"Is everything ok with you and Noah?" she questioned, and it was the first time I saw this side of her. Instead of the uninterested, blunt girl, she sounded caring. Especially when she placed a hand on my back and rubbed little circles over my shirt.

"Yeah, really good actually." I leaned forward on the counter, trying not to faint. "Maybe I did too much, too fast, you know?"

She nodded in understanding, shifting her gaze to the large windows. "This weather certainly doesn't help."

I managed to force out a chuckle, looking at the pouring rain.

Though it was definitely something to get depressed from, it was also calming. A lot of people stayed home or at work, deciding on some instant coffee instead of a fresh cup and returning soaking wet, so we didn't get a lot of customers.

"Yeah, I—oh, for fucks sake!" Drops of blood splattered on the counter, and I quickly grabbed a napkin, holding it against my nose and preventing myself from making an even bigger mess.

"Whoa, what the fuck?" Kelly exclaimed, grabbing a washcloth to wipe the counter clean, before pulling me a chair.

I sunk into it, scrunching up my nose and occasionally checking if I was still bleeding. "God, this is the second time this week."

Kelly narrowed her eyes at me, leaning against the counter behind her with her arms crossed. "When was the last time you had your period?"

She startled me with that question, especially since I didn't think it was anything like that.

"Uhm." I grabbed a fresh napkin and replaced the soaked one, frowning. "Actually, it's been a while."

"Any chance you could be pregnant?"

I choked on my saliva, not knowing if I wanted to burst out crying or laughing. "No, we used a condom every time. I mean...we didn't once but that's too soon. Right?"

"You know, my dad always told me that when my mother got pregnant with me, she had occasional nosebleeds."

"Are you trying to scare me?" I asked jokingly, but Kelly didn't move. She kept looking at me, her expression almost concerned.

"Oh my god." It was safe to say my nose had stopped bleeding, and the leftover blood in my face drained out of it as I started to panic. "But I'm way too young to be a mother, and what if Noah leaves? And what would my parents think? Hell, I can't even afford—"