Cut Off

Chapter 23

I am officially a month away from my due date. I am 33 weeks today. It is also my birthday, February 15, which also happens to be the day after Valentine's Day.

Dr. Montgomery put me on bedrest a few days ago, so Zach and I didn't do much yesterday. I told him that I don't like Valentine's Day, and he respected that. Kind of. He did get me chocolate, which I didn't reject. I also told him I hate my birthday, but he doesn't seem as willing to accept that fact.

After waking up, I see Zach in the doorway with a tray of food. I shake my head at him but then he just brings it to me anyway. He sets the tray down next to me on the bed and then kisses me.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY SKYLAR" he signs.

"THANKS" I sign back, not as enthusiastic as he seems to be.

"WHY AREN'T YOU HAPPY?"

"I AM. JUST TIRED. I DIDN'T SLEEP MUCH."

"SORRY."

"NOT YOUR FAULT."

"I'M STILL SORRY."

"THANKS" I sign.

Then Zach grabs the food and hands it to me and sits next to me in bed.

I start eating because I can't deny that I'm hungry. I'm always hungry. Then I see Zach grab a box from the bedside table.

I told him I didn't want presents. I shake my head at him but he hands it to me anyway.

"JUST ONE" he signs.

I groan but open it anyway because he already bought it.

I open the box and see a beautiful silver charm bracelet. On it there are a few charms: the letter H, the letter I, a heart, a tennis shoe, a key, and the letter S in ASL. I inspect each charm and smile. Then I turn to Zach and kiss him.

"THANK YOU" I sign.

"DO YOU ACTUALLY LIKE IT? I CAN RETURN IT. I KNOW YOU SAID YOU DON'T WANT PRESENTS."

"I LIKE IT. SERIOUSLY. THANK YOU."

"GOOD. WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO TODAY?"

"WHAT CAN I DO? I CAN'T LEAVE THIS BED."

"TRUE. DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T ENJOY IT."

"I JUST WANT TO SIT HERE. YOU CAN JOIN ME IF YOU WANT."

He nods. He understands that I don't really enjoy bedrest, but there isn't anything he can do about it. He kisses my forehead and then lays down closer to me and I lean into him.

Then our moment is ruined by my phone ringing. I check the caller ID and it's my mom. I pick up and she immediately starts talking.

"Happy birthday Skylar!" she practically yells into the phone.

"Thank you" I tell her.

"I'm sorry I'm not with you."

"It's fine."

"It's not. You're 19. I should be with you to celebrate."

"I'm not really celebrating. I'm going to be in bed all day."

"Well, you should still do something. Either way, your present is should be there already. The app says it was delivered an hour ago."

"Okay. Thank you. Is that it?"

"No. I want to talk to my daughter. How are you feeling? It's getting close to your due date, right?"

"Yeah. A month from today. And I feel fine. A small headache and I'm swollen everywhere, but other than that."