𝚋𝚎𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 - 𝚓𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚊𝚗 𝚙𝚘𝚘𝚕𝚎.

one.

Karianah Hayes.

The blaring sirens echoed in the night as I was lifted onto a stretcher, the cold air biting at my skin. My heart raced—not from fear of what had happened to me, but from the life that was about to change forever. I could barely process the pain in my stomach as I was whisked away in the ambulance.

The paramedics worked efficiently around me, their voices a blur as I drifted in and out of consciousness. I could hear one of them mention something about my baby. Panic surged through me. My eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, I thought I saw Jordan standing there, but the world around me was spinning, and I couldn't be sure.

Suddenly, the ambulance jolted to a stop, and I was hurriedly rolled into the hospital. The fluorescent lights above buzzed like angry bees, and I squinted against the brightness. Just as they wheeled me into a room, I caught a glimpse of Jordan bursting through the doors behind me, his face a mask of fear and confusion.

"Karianah!" he shouted, his voice cracking.

"Sir, you need to stay back," one of the nurses said, blocking his path.

"No! That's my fiancée!" Jordan's eyes were wild with desperation. He tried to follow the stretcher, but the nurses wouldn't let him pass. My heart sank at the sight of him—my protector, my rock, looking so helpless.

The police arrived moments later, their presence a stark reminder of the chaos that had led to this moment. One of the officers approached Jordan, his expression serious. "Mr. Poole, I'm sorry, but your fiancée was found at the home. She's been attacked, and it's critical that we assess her condition. You'll have to wait here."

"Attacked?" Jordan's voice rose in anger, tears pooling in his eyes. "What the fuck do you mean? How could this happen? She was supposed to be safe!"

"We're doing everything we can," the officer said, but the words felt hollow against the backdrop of Jordan's grief. He pressed his hands against his face, and I could see the tremble in his shoulders.

"Please," he begged, voice breaking, "I need to be with her."

Minutes felt like hours as I lay on the stretcher, my world spinning out of control. The pain intensified, and I could feel the familiar tightening in my abdomen. I was losing track of everything as I slipped in and out of consciousness, but the sound of Jordan's voice brought me back.

Finally, a doctor appeared, looking weary but determined. "Mr. Poole," he called, and Jordan rushed over, all anger and fear distilled into a single focus. "We need to prepare her for labor. She's going into premature labor due to the fall."

Jordan's eyes widened. "Labor? Now? But she's not ready!"

"Her health is our priority. We need to move fast," the doctor said, ushering Jayden away from the room.

As they began to prep me, I fought to stay awake, to hold onto the last remnants of consciousness. The pain was like fire, burning through me, but through it all, I thought of Jayden and our baby.

Then, as if drawn by an unseen force, I remembered a quiet moment we'd shared not long ago.

four months ago..

"Okay, let's think of names," I said, cradling my belly while we lounged on the couch.

Jordan grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "How about Jordan Jr.?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "Absolutely not. What about Jahkari? It combines our names."

"Jahkari," he mused, rolling it around in his mouth. "I like it. It sounds strong."