WHEN WE CROSS THE threshold, a kind-faced doctor is sitting at the desk in front of us.
She looks up from her paperwork, her face erupting in sunlight, as a bright, reassuring smile crosses her lips. I already like her.
She's wearing bright pink scrubs, and as I look at her desk, I see pictures of what must be her family; her and her husband, holding the tiniest bundle I'd ever seen.
"Hard to imagine that was seven years ago," she tells me, following my eyeline.
I look away, slightly embarrassed she'd caught me staring.
"You must be Tessa?" she asks me and I nod, shaking the hand she's offered me.
I can't manage any words, so I give her a nervous nod instead as I feel a tear slip down my cheek.
Offering me a tissue, I take it, before she pulls me into a sideways hug, rubbing my arm as I wipe my eyes and try to pull myself together.
"I'm Mandy, and you are going to be just fine, Sweetie."
Her reassuring voice helps me feel better, as well as her smile, and after another couple of minutes, the tears seem to stop. I look across at Charlotte, who squeezes my hand again as Mandy lets me go, gesturing to the chair in front of her desk.
"Don't leave me," I whisper to Charlotte as she turns, before realising she was just grabbing the chair from the door. My chest fills with relief as she drags it across and sits right next to me, keeping my hand in hers.
"Beeper's off, okay," Charlotte whispers. "No one can bother me. I'm not going anywhere."
Mandy's calm nature helps me feel at ease as she taps a few things on her computer, and when she turns towards me, I am so glad Charlotte is with me.
"We ready to take a look?" she asks me.
I take a minute, but when I smile and nod, she gives me a big smile.
"Amazing." She stretches across the table and takes the hand that's resting there before she leans back, tapping up notes on a document.
"Before we get to the exciting part, I just want to ask you a few questions if that's okay?"
I nod.
"If you don't know the answer, don't worry. It's just so we can maybe work out how far along you may be. Then we'll get to the scan, okay."
From what she says, my face falls. "Is there..." I start, looking at Charlotte. "Is there any possibility I'm not pregnant?"
The realisation that I may not be doesn't sit well at all, and I get a sudden feeling of emptiness. Two hours ago, I thought I had a stomach upset. Now, at the thought of losing a child I may or may not be carrying, I feel like my world was ending.
"Don't think about that, Sweetie. I won't be long with the questions, okay."
I nod, trying to push it out of my mind, nodding to tell her I was ready.
"Firstly, have you taken a pregnancy test?" she asks.
I shake my head. "No. No, I've only thought about it this morning. I counted back, and..."
Panic rises in my chest, but the reassuring squeeze of my hand from Charlotte keeps me grounded.
"Tessa, I need you to try and stay calm, okay. You're in a safe space here," Mandy tells me, as I feel my heart rate elevate, my breath quickening. "Hun, can you just grab her a glass of water from outside?" she asks Charlotte, who nods, letting me go for a few seconds, returning with a cup.
YOU ARE READING
Forked Roads Back
Teen FictionAfter the death of Matt Granger, both Tessa and Archie feel more empty and alone than ever. Although both are trying to move on, meeting new people and starting new lives, they constantly feel stuck, like something is missing. Each trying to keep t...