Breaking Free

38.

The day of Kierra's egg retrieval had finally arrived, and the morning felt surreal. There was a mix of excitement and nerves floating through the air as they prepared to head to the clinic. Tasha had woken up early, determined to be by Kierra's side every moment of the day. The last few weeks of injections and appointments had led them to this point, and though the process had been exhausting, today marked a significant milestone in their IVF journey.

Kierra sat at the edge of the bed, staring down at her hands as she tried to steady her breathing. She had been mentally preparing herself for this, but now that the day was here, she couldn't help but feel a little anxious. The procedure wasn't something she was afraid of, but the weight of what came next hung over her.

Tasha, sensing Kierra's unease, walked over and sat beside her. She wrapped an arm around Kierra's shoulders and pressed a soft kiss to her temple.

"You ready, babe?" Tasha asked, her voice gentle and calm.

Kierra sighed and leaned into Tasha's embrace. "I think so. I'm just nervous, I guess."

"That's completely normal," Tasha assured her, rubbing her back. "You've been so strong through all of this. We're almost there."

Kierra nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, I just... I want everything to go well."

"It will," Tasha said confidently. "I'm going to be right there with you, okay?"

Kierra looked up at her fiancée, a small smile creeping onto her face. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Tasha chuckled softly. "Good thing you don't have to find out."

With that, they finished getting ready and headed to the clinic. The car ride was quiet, both of them lost in their own thoughts. Kierra stared out the window, watching the city pass by, while Tasha kept a reassuring hand on her knee, giving it gentle squeezes every now and then.

When they arrived at the clinic, Kierra's stomach flipped with nerves again, but she tried to keep herself calm. The waiting room was quiet, with only a few other people sitting around. The soft hum of the air conditioning filled the space, and the receptionist greeted them with a warm smile as they checked in.

They didn't have to wait long before Kierra's name was called. Tasha stood up with her, holding her hand as they followed the nurse down the hallway. Once they were in the prep room, the reality of it all seemed to sink in even more. Kierra changed into the hospital gown, her heart pounding a little harder in her chest as she lay down on the bed.

Tasha stood beside her, holding her hand. "You're going to do great, babe," she whispered, giving Kierra's hand a squeeze.

"Thanks," Kierra whispered back, her voice shaky but grateful.

Soon enough, Dr. Adams came in, along with the rest of the medical team. She greeted both of them with a reassuring smile. "How are we feeling today?"

"Nervous," Kierra admitted with a soft laugh.

"That's totally understandable," Dr. Adams said kindly. "But don't worry. We've got everything under control, and you're in good hands. We're going to take good care of you."

Kierra nodded, taking another deep breath as the anesthesiologist began preparing her for the procedure. Tasha stayed close, watching as Kierra's eyelids grew heavy with the medication. Within moments, Kierra was asleep, and the retrieval process began.

The procedure didn't take long, but for Tasha, it felt like hours. She sat in the waiting room, her leg bouncing with nervous energy as she waited for news. When Dr. Adams finally came out, Tasha jumped to her feet, her heart racing.

"Everything went well," Dr. Adams said with a reassuring smile. "We retrieved several good eggs, and we'll fertilize them today. In a few days, we'll know which embryos are viable."

Tasha let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Relief washed over her as she thanked Dr. Adams and quickly made her way to Kierra's recovery room.

Kierra was slowly waking up, still groggy from the anesthesia, but she managed a small, sleepy smile when she saw Tasha walk in.

"Hey, you," Tasha said softly, sitting down beside her and taking her hand.

"Is it over?" Kierra mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

"Yeah, it's over," Tasha replied, brushing a few strands of hair out of Kierra's face. "You did amazing, babe. Everything went great."

Kierra smiled weakly, squeezing Tasha's hand. "Good. I'm so glad you're here."

"Always," Tasha said, leaning down to kiss her forehead.

After a little while, Kierra was more awake, and the two of them were able to leave the clinic. The drive home was quiet again, but this time, there was a sense of calm between them. They had made it through another big step in the process, and now they just had to wait for the next phase.

As they pulled up to their house, Kierra sighed with relief. "I can't believe it's done," she said softly, leaning back in her seat.

Tasha smiled, turning off the car. "I'm proud of you, babe. You've been through a lot these past few weeks, but you've handled it like a champ."

Kierra blushed, a shy smile tugging at her lips. "Thanks, babe."

Once inside, they settled onto the couch, and Tasha wrapped her arms around Kierra, pulling her close.

"So," Tasha said after a few minutes, her voice soft. "Our wedding's coming up soon. You excited?"

Kierra's eyes lit up at the mention of their wedding. "Of course I am. I can't wait to marry you."

"Me either," Tasha said, smiling. "I was thinking about it a lot while I was in Atlanta. I can't believe it's almost here."

Kierra nodded, resting her head on Tasha's shoulder. "Yeah, it's crazy. It feels like we've been planning forever, but now it's right around the corner."

"Everything's coming together," Tasha said. "I talked to the caterer while I was gone, and they said everything's on schedule. And the flowers? They're going to be perfect."

Kierra smiled, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. "I'm glad. It's going to be beautiful."

Tasha kissed the top of Kierra's head. "Beautiful, just like you."

Kierra chuckled softly, her heart feeling full. "I can't believe we're going to be wives soon."

"Believe it," Tasha said, her voice full of love. "I've been waiting for this moment forever."

As they sat there, wrapped up in each other, the future felt bright. Between their upcoming wedding and the excitement of their IVF journey, everything seemed to be falling into place. There were still hurdles ahead, but they knew they could face anything as long as they had each other.

With their wedding approaching and the hope of starting a family soon, the next chapter of their lives was beginning—and they were ready.