RENEÉ GREY

40 | Hey, soon-to-be daddy

40 | Hey, soon-to-be daddy

CH 40 : Yeah, Right

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Grey's fingers tapped away at the laptop keyboard as he attempted to wrap up a contract. Suddenly, an urgent need to use the toilet struck him, and he rose from his seat. He headed to the bathroom he shared with Renee, but as he approached, a small red light on the wall caught his eye. It indicated that someone had opened the door on the other side. He was about to turn back, when Renee's voice echoed through the door.

"I don't know, Mom. This is a delicate situation. Do I go with a straightforward approach? 'Hey, Grey, I'm pregnant.' Or do I try to lighten the mood? 'Hey, soon-to-be daddy.' Or maybe I should just keep it casual? 'Hey, I just found out I'm pregnant.'"  

Stunned, Grey froze in his tracks. He hadn't realized Renee was in the bathroom. His mind reeled as her words washed over him, each syllable sinking deep into his brain like a knife.

Pregnant.

The single word reverberated through his mind like an explosion, sending shockwaves of emotions rippling through his body. He could feel his heart racing, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps.

Fear. Anxiety. Anger. The swirl of emotions was overwhelming, dizzying. How could she be pregnant? He knew they had been intimate a lot of times, but she was always careful. Or so he had thought.

Grey's mind raced, his thoughts a blur of panic and disbelief. Pregnant? No. It couldn't be. Renee couldn't be pregnant. It was too dangerous. His past traumas came rushing back, the memories of loss and pain flooding his mind like a tidal wave. He shook his head violently, trying to dislodge the images, the fear.

Stumbling to the fridge, Grey fumbled with the handle, his hands trembling as he yanked the door open and grabbed a bottle of water. He took a few deep gulps, the cold liquid soothing his parched throat.

As Grey's mind continued to swirl with chaotic thoughts, the weight of his anxiety became overwhelming. He leaned against his office table, his chest heaving with labored breaths. A sudden, sharp pain gripped his chest, radiating outwards like a shockwave.

His heart thundered in his ears, the room beginning to spin as his vision blurred. He clutched at his chest, trying to steady himself, but the panic only intensified. His mind clouded with thoughts of loss, of Renee, of what this pregnancy could mean.

As the intensity of the anxiety attack continued to rise, Grey found himself teetering on the edge of a precipice. He couldn't do this. He couldn't risk it. Not again.

Without thinking, he stumbled to his feet, his movements jerky and uncoordinated. He had to push her away. It was the only way to protect himself, to protect her. He couldn't face the pain of losing someone else he loved.

Pushing through his seat, Grey stumbled onto the chair, his breath coming in short, ragged bursts.

********************

As the weeks passed, Grey's world continued to spiral. His phone buzzed incessantly with calls from concerned family and friends, each call a reminder of the decision he'd made.

Lave, his sister, berated him. "What is wrong with you, Grey? Are you really just going to walk away from her?"

Nate, his best friend, pleaded with him. "She needs you, man. She's scared and alone. Don't do this to her."

Even Madeline, his mother, chimed in. "Renee is a good girl, Grey."

Nessa, the receptionist, didn't even attempt to sugarcoat her disappointment. "That's a real low move, Grey. Renee deserves better than this."