Forever Almost

Chapter 32

**Flashback:**

Taylor hadn't been feeling well for days. The dizziness, the constant fatigue—it wasn't like her at all. She had chalked it up to stress, but when she fainted in the middle of her apartment, she knew something was wrong. A kind neighbor had found her and rushed her to the hospital.

Lying on the hospital bed, Taylor anxiously awaited the doctor's diagnosis. She couldn't shake the feeling that something significant was happening. The door opened, and a middle-aged woman with kind eyes entered, wearing a white coat. "Ms. Swift, how are you feeling?" the doctor asked, her voice gentle yet professional.

Taylor managed a weak smile. "A little lightheaded, but I'm okay. What's wrong with me, Doctor?"

The doctor glanced at the clipboard in her hands and then back at Taylor. "We ran some tests, and I have some news. You're pregnant, Ms. Swift."

Taylor's breath caught in her throat. Pregnant? Her heart swelled with joy, and her hands instinctively went to her stomach. *I'm going to be a mom*, she thought, tears of happiness welling up in her eyes.

"Oh my God... I'm pregnant," she whispered, a smile spreading across her face. "I'm really pregnant." Her mind raced with thoughts of Travis, the man she loved so deeply. She wanted to call him immediately, to share the incredible news. But just as she reached for her phone, reality came crashing down on her—the promise she had made to Kayla.

"I can't..."she thought, her hand freezing mid-air. The memory of Kayla's threats, the pain of watching Travis from afar, all of it came rushing back. She had promised to stay out of his life, to let him be with Kayla. He was probably engaged to her by now, maybe even planning their future together.

The doctor's voice broke through her thoughts. "Ms. Swift, there's something else."

Taylor looked up, her happiness faltering at the doctor's serious tone. "What is it?" she asked, her voice trembling.

The doctor's expression softened as she continued, "It's twins, Taylor. You're carrying twins."

Taylor gasped, her heart overflowing with emotion. *Twins?* She could hardly believe it. Two little lives growing inside her. It was more than she had ever dreamed of. "Twins..." she repeated, a tear slipping down her cheek. "I can't believe it. I'm going to be a mom of two."

But before she could fully absorb the joy of the news, the doctor's expression turned grave. "Taylor, I need to discuss something important with you. Your pregnancy has complications."

The joy drained from Taylor's face as fear crept in. "Complications? What kind of complications?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The doctor sighed, her eyes filled with empathy. "There's a significant risk to your health. Carrying these babies to term could put your life in serious danger. I'm afraid it's not a situation we can take lightly. My professional advice would be to consider terminating the pregnancy."

Taylor's world shattered in an instant. The joy she had felt moments ago was replaced by an overwhelming sense of despair. "Terminate?" she echoed, her voice hollow. "No... no, I can't. These are my babies. I can't lose them."

The doctor reached out, placing a comforting hand on Taylor's shoulder. "I understand how difficult this is, Taylor. But you need to consider your own life too. You're young, and you have a future ahead of you. I know it's not what you want to hear, but you need to think about it."

Tears streamed down Taylor's face as she shook her head. "I can't... I won't do it. They're all I have left."

The door to the room opened, and the kind neighbor who had brought Taylor to the hospital entered. She had been waiting outside, worried about Taylor. Seeing her distress, she immediately moved to her side. "Oh, honey, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Taylor looked at her, her voice breaking as she tried to explain. "I'm... I'm pregnant. With twins. But the doctor says... she says it's dangerous. She wants me to... to terminate the pregnancy."

The woman's eyes widened with sympathy as she sat down beside Taylor, pulling her into a comforting embrace. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry. That's a lot to take in."

Taylor sobbed into the woman's shoulder, feeling utterly lost. "I don't know what to do.... what am I supposed to do?"

The woman pulled back slightly, looking Taylor in the eyes. "You do what you think is right, Taylor. Don't let anyone else make this decision for you. You're a strong woman, and you'll find a way through this. Whatever you decide, I'll be here for you."

Taylor nodded, wiping her tears. "Thank you... I don't even know your name."

The woman smiled warmly. "It's Donna. Donna Hart. I'm a therapist," she said, handing Taylor a business card. "If you ever need to talk or need anything at all, just call me, okay? You don't have to go through this alone."

Taylor took the card, feeling a glimmer of hope in the midst of her despair. "Thank you, Donna. I don't know what I would have done without you today."

Donna gave her a reassuring squeeze. "You're stronger than you think, Taylor. Remember that."

**Present:**

As Taylor sat in the café, staring at the contact card Donna had given her, she felt a renewed sense of determination. She wouldn't let Kayla scare her into giving up on her babies. She had to think about what to do next—how to protect her children and Travis.

She knew that staying in her apartment was no longer safe. Kayla had found out about her pregnancy, and Taylor had no doubt she would go to any lengths to get what she wanted. With a deep breath, Taylor pulled out her phone and dialed Donna's number.

"Donna? It's Taylor... I need your help."