More Than Friends

Chapter 43: A Scary Turn

It had been a couple of weeks since the gender reveal, and everything seemed to be goin' smoothly. Nicole and Devin were still on cloud nine from findin' out they were havin' a baby girl, but somethin' shifted not long after. Nicole started feelin' off—tired, more than usual, and just not herself. She tried to brush it off at first, tellin' herself it was just part of the pregnancy, but deep down, she knew somethin' wasn't right.

One evenin', as she sat on the couch, rubbin' her temples to ease a headache, Devin walked over, noticin' the strain on her face. "You okay, Nic? You been actin' kinda off the past few days."

Nicole sighed, leanin' back against the cushions. "I don't know, Dev. I just don't feel good. I been havin' headaches, and I'm more tired than usual."

Devin frowned, his concern growin'. "Maybe we should go to the hospital, just to be safe."

Nicole nodded, realizin' he was right. "Yeah, maybe we should."

The Emergency Room

When they arrived at the hospital later that night, the doctors ran a series of tests. It didn't take long for them to figure out what was wrong—Nicole's blood pressure was dangerously high. The doctors called it preeclampsia, a condition that could be serious if not managed properly.

Nicole felt a wave of fear wash over her as they explained the situation. She would need to stay in the hospital for a while so they could monitor her and make sure her blood pressure didn't get worse. Devin stayed by her side the whole time, holdin' her hand, tryin' to keep her calm, but she could see the worry in his eyes.

"You gon' be okay, Nic," Devin whispered, squeezin' her hand. "They got you in good hands."

Nicole nodded, tryin' to stay positive, but the reality of the situation weighed heavy on her. She was only five months pregnant, and the thought of somethin' happenin' to her or the baby scared her more than she could say.

A Week in the Hospital

Nicole stayed in the hospital for about a week, and though the doctors did everything they could to get her blood pressure under control, she still didn't feel right. She was exhausted, emotionally and physically, but she tried to push through, hopin' that things would get better once she was back home.

Finally, the doctors decided she could go home, but they warned her to rest and come back if anything felt off. Nicole tried to stay hopeful as she and Devin left the hospital, but deep down, she couldn't shake the feelin' that somethin' was still wrong.

Back Home and Another Scare

The next day, after a restless night at home, Nicole woke up feelin' worse than ever. Her body felt heavy, and her head was poundin'. She knew she needed to go back to the hospital, but before she could even tell Devin, she collapsed onto the floor.

Devin rushed to her side, his heart racin' with panic. "Nic! Nic, talk to me!"

Nicole's breath was shallow, and her vision was blurry, but she managed to whisper, "I don't feel good, Dev."

Without wastin' a second, Devin called 911, and within minutes, they were on their way to the hospital again.

The Emergency C-Section

When they got to the hospital, the doctors didn't waste any time. Nicole's condition had worsened, and they told her she needed to have an emergency C-section. The baby had to come early—way earlier than they had planned—but it was the only way to keep both Nicole and the baby safe.

Nicole was terrified, but Devin stayed by her side, holdin' her hand, doin' everything he could to keep her calm.

"You gon' be okay, Nic," he whispered, his voice shakier than he wanted it to be. "You strong, and so is our baby."

Nicole nodded, tryin' to stay brave, but fear gripped her heart. She wasn't ready for this—none of them were—but she had to trust that the doctors knew what they were doin'. As they wheeled her into the operating room, Nicole closed her eyes, sayin' a silent prayer that everything would be okay.

A New Life, A New Challenge

The emergency C-section was quick but intense. Nicole could hear the doctors talkin', but everything felt distant, like she was floatin' in and out of consciousness. And then, finally, she heard it—the soft, fragile cry of their baby girl.

Tears filled Nicole's eyes as the sound washed over her. Their daughter had arrived, but she was born way too early. The doctors rushed the baby to the NICU, explainin' that she would need to be monitored closely since she was so premature. Nicole barely registered their words—she was too exhausted, too overwhelmed to process everything that was happenin'.

Devin stayed with Nicole, his heart heavy with worry, but when he heard their baby cry, it was like a weight had been lifted. She was here—early, yes, but she was here. And they would fight to make sure she stayed.