On Me (Matt Sturniolo)

15

"How are you feeling lately?"

I turned and looked at Mary, who I could have sworn was getting bigger with her baby bump every time I saw her.

"Good" I smiled at her. "How about you?"

"I'm good. Although I wish this little bundle would give over and let me and let me breathe normally for once"

I laughed, looking at her growing belly.

"Oh, Madison, I'm sorry. Baby brain. I forgot" she said, giving me an apologetic look.

"It's okay" I smiled at her. "Really, I'm okay"

"I wasn't thinking, I'm sorry. I know what you're going through, it's...hard to say the least"

I smiled at her, turning back to Rebecca as she prepped my arm for the eight and final time.

"You could be lucky, Madison" Rebecca said, my arm tensing as she put the needle in. "Sorry...I know it hurts" she whispered. "But it's true...you still could conceive"

"We'll see" I replied. "It's not on my agenda right now. I have other things to worry about"

"Like what?" Mary fired back.

"Uh...stuff" I told her. "It's okay. I'm dealing with it"

"Nobody is really dealing with it when they say they are" Mary narrowed her eyes at me. "So tell me, what's wrong?"

Could I really get another opinion on this?

I mean, I loved Rachel so much, she was my best friend and I trusted her with everything...but it wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion, would it?

"Done" Rebecca smiled, tapping my wrist to let me know it was okay to move my arm. "I'll be back. Behave yourselves"

"Always" Mary smiled, but it dropped when Rebecca left. "So?"

"So?"

"Don't play games. What's up?"

I sighed, resting my head back in my chair.

"I don't know where to start..."

"The start is usually good, honey"

"I guess..." I whispered. "I think...I think I really messed up"

"With what? Your boyfriend?" She asked, and I winced, trying to make myself comfortable.

"Not yet"

"Madison, you're not making much sense. Spill it out"

"Okay..." I sighed, giving in. "Remember when I went to the charity dinner a few weeks ago?"

Mary nodded. "Yeah"

"I...met someone"

I watched how she froze, her eyes fixed on me completely.

"Okay..." she mumbled. "I'm going to try and not talk while you talk, I'll just listen"

I nodded.

"I didn't realise what sort of dinner this was...it was a charity dinner for people like us and famous people. Turns out, my table was with the Sturniolo Triplets"