SONDER

𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯

SEASON ONE, EPISODE NINETEEN:
BRENDA'S GOT A BABY

ANIYAH
tw: abortion, mentions of rape

"You sure you don't want me to go in with you?" Mekhi asks as I reach for the door handle. I sit and debate for about five seconds before coming to a quick conclusion.

"No, but thanks."

"No?" He seems taken aback for some reason, as if he wasn't expecting me to say that. "I know I'm an asshole sometimes, but this is a big event and if you just want someone in there to hold your hand then I'll go. I don't want you to feel like you're alone."

"I am alone." I remove my hand from the door handle and turn to face him. "I do appreciate you trying to come in and comfort me but despite you being here I'm still..alone. The one person I need here is somewhere pretending as if this isn't real life."

"So, just stay here?"

I nod, not wanting to say much. I had him park down the street so that nobody would recognize the car and think he was dropping Saida off or something. Her mental health already isn't too great, I wouldn't want someone to see the car, see Mekhi in the front and then start piecing together bullshit.

They already have a lot to say about me at school, so if they see me making my way to the clinic it's not like they'll be surprised.

I finally work up the courage to get out of the car, and I put my wired headphones into both of my ears, allowing Runaway by Kanye West to take over my mind.

Stuffing my hands into the pockets of my hoodie, I shut the car door behind me and start to walk down the sidewalk.

As I approach the clinic, the loud voices of angry protestors begin to overpower the song which was blasting through my headphones—this said a lot, as the song was on the highest volume.

These people were clearly upset.

"Murderer!" Was the first thing that caught my attention. Sure, they were shouting other things, but murderer?

A little harsh, don't you think?

"That's a baby you're carrying! Think of the innocent life you're getting rid of!" Another woman yelled. She was older, around sixty. No kids coming out of there any time soon.

Making my way through the crowd, I got to the entrance and made my way in. I walked up to the desk, seeing a middle-aged Asian woman sitting there. I reached in my pocket and grabbed my phone, pausing the music.

"Um.." I speak lowly as I approach the woman at the desk. "Hi,"

"Hi. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Yes, actually. I have an appointment scheduled for an um, abortion, at three. I'm a little early, and I've never done this before so I'm just a little confused?"

She stares at me, taking in my expressions. "You seem a little flushed...would you like a cup of water, sweetheart? I understand things like this can be difficult."

"Yes, please." I stand there and give her a tight-lipped smile. She doesn't say much, she just stands up and goes to the back before coming back around a minute or two later with a paper cup with cold water.