⁎𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔗𝔯𝔲𝔱𝔥 𝔇𝔬𝔢𝔰𝔫'𝔱 𝔍𝔲𝔰𝔱 𝔙𝔞𝔫𝔦𝔰𝔥⁎

𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒 : 𝑂𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐾𝑒𝑒𝑝𝑠 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑀𝑦 𝘐𝘯 𝑊𝑎𝑦

"Thanks, Clyde," she said softly. "I'll keep that in mind." She turned and unlocked her apartment door, stepping inside. It's a penthouse to be exact. The warmth and familiarity of her home surrounded her, and she took a deep breath, trying to let go of the tension that had built up outside.

As she set down her bag and began to remove her coat, she glanced around, taking in the changes that had been made since Jesse's disappearance. His old guitar still hung on the wall, but now there was a tiny pair of pink sneakers propped up beside it, a reminder of the life they could have had together. The living room seemed smaller now, as if the weight of their loss had physically shrunk the space around them. But at the same time, it felt more like a sanctuary, a place where they could remember and honor Jesse's memory.

Billie walked into the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water. She looked out the window, watching the snow fall gently to the ground. It was a peaceful scene, but she couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness inside. She wished she could feel some sort of connection to Jesse, some sign that he was still with her somehow. But all she had were the memories, and those were both a blessing and a curse.

She felt a little dizzy and some discomfort, so she decided to head upstairs. She climbed the stairs slowly, but she accidentally tripped, and fell forward, landing on her hands and knees. She stayed there for a moment, catching her breath, feeling the warmth of the tears on her cheeks. She didn't know why she was crying; maybe it was the pain of losing Jesse, maybe it was the shock of finding out about Clyde, or maybe it was just the overwhelming sense of helplessness that came with it all.

She lost balance and fell right on the staircase, the pain in her belly becoming more intense. The tears kept falling as she tried to gather her strength to get up, but it was no use. She felt dizzy and lightheaded. She reached out for the railing, but her grip was weak. She couldn't breathe properly. Something was wrong.

She tried to crawl, despite the pain that was killing her and reached for her phone. She panted as she dialed Zoe's number, her vision blurring. "Zoe, I need you to come over... Something's wrong. . . I think I'm. . . I think I'm having the baby. . ." Her words were slurred, her voice weak.

"Billie, what's going on? Stay calm, okay? I'm on my way," Zoe replied, her voice filled with concern. Billie could hear the click of her heels on the other side of the line as she hurried up the stairs.

"I'm losing so much blood. . ." Billie whimpered, gripping the railing tightly. She felt a sharp pain in her back, and her breath came in short, shallow gasps. Her vision began to darken around the edges.

"Okay, Billie, I'm here. Just try to stay calm and stay on the line with me," Zoe urged as she was nearing Billie's apartment.

As Zoe hurried up the last flight of stairs, she could hear her friend's labored breathing and the sound of something wet hitting the floor. Her heart raced as she saw Billie collapsed on the floor, clutching her abdomen.

"Billie, I'm here," Zoe said, kneeling beside her friend. She reached out to steady her, but Billie was too weak to hold herself up. Her skin was pale and clammy, and there was a sheen of sweat on her forehead. Zoe glanced around, trying to find something to use as a makeshift pillow for Billie's head.

"You're losing a lot of blood babe. I need to call for an ambulance," she said, dialing the emergency services as she spoke. She pressed the phone against her friend's ear so she could hear the operator.

The pain intensified as Billie's contractions grew closer together. "It hurts. . . so bad. . ." she whimpered, her grip on her abdomen tightening. Zoe rubbed her friend's back, trying to offer some comfort. "It's going to be okay, Billie. The ambulance is on their way," she reassured her, though she didn't sound entirely convinced herself.

"Is the. . . baby okay?" Billie asked between gritted teeth, her voice barely audible over her labored breathing. Zoe's heart clenched at the fear in her friend's voice. "I mean... I don't want to lose her. . "

"I don't know, Billie. I hope so," Zoe replied honestly, her voice shaking. She continued to rub her friend's back, trying to help her focus on the pain, hoping that it would somehow make it easier. "The ambulance is almost here. Just hold on, okay?"

The paramedics arrived a few minutes later, their faces grim as they hurried up the stairs. They quickly assessed the situation and instructed Zoe to move aside. They carefully lifted Billie onto a stretcher and began to administer oxygen, trying to stabilize her condition.

"I need some help downstairs," one of the paramedics called out to Zoe, who quickly followed them, her heart racing. As they made their way down the stairs and out of the building, she could hear Billie's labored breathing and the beeping of the machines. The paramedics loaded her into the ambulance and raced off towards the hospital.

Once they arrived at the emergency room, the medical staff immediately whisked Billie away. Zoe was left alone in the waiting room, her mind racing with questions and fears. She paced the floor, her cell phone clutched tightly in her hand, willing it to ring with news about her friend.

Inside the ICU, Billie was fighting for her life. The doctors and nurses worked tirelessly to stop the bleeding and deliver her baby, who was in distress. Time seemed to slow down as Zoe waited in the waiting room, her heart feeling as if it were being torn in two.

"C-Section, stat!" The doctor's voice echoed through the halls of the hospital as they raced Billie into the operating room. Zoe paced the waiting room, her mind a whirlwind of anxiety and fear. She clutched her phone, willing it to ring with news about her friend.

Inside the OR, the medical team worked with expert precision. The anesthesiologist administered medication to keep Billie stable while the surgeons cut into her abdomen, careful not to harm the tiny life growing inside her. The tension in the room was palpable as they struggled to save both mother and child.

Outside, Zoe paced the waiting room, her eyes fixed on the door. Each time it opened, she held her breath, hoping to see the doctors emerge with good news. But each time, it was only a nurse or a doctor with updates on Billie's condition. She tried to remain calm, but the fear and anxiety threatened to overwhelm her at every turn.

In the OR, the surgery continued. After several tense hours, the doctors finally delivered a healthy baby girl. They hurried her off to the NICU, where a team of specialists would monitor her for any complications. The surgeons then turned their attention back to Billie, working feverishly to stop the bleeding and repair the damage.

Meanwhile, Zoe waited in the waiting room, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't help but picture her friend lying on the operating table, fighting for her life. The nurses and doctors kept her updated with brief snippets of information, but she yearned for more. She wanted to be with Billie, to hold her hand and tell her that everything would be okay.

TO ᗷE ᑕOᑎTIᑎᑌEᗪ