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Part 71

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The shift didn't happen all at once.

It crept in.

06:10 AM — Too Early

Leah woke with a jolt.

Her stomach twisted violently.

"Shit—"

She barely made it out of bed before she was running to the bathroom.

Lilly was up instantly.

"Leah—"

She reached the door just as Leah dropped to her knees.

It was worse this time.

Not just quick. Not just one wave.

It kept coming.

Lilly knelt beside her, holding her hair back, one hand firm on her back.

"Breathe," she murmured. "Slow."

Leah shook her head, gagging again. Tears streamed down her face — from the force of it, from the exhaustion.

"I can't—" she choked.

"You can," Lilly said quietly. "You are."

Another wave hit.

Stronger.

Longer.

When it finally stopped, Leah slumped back against the wall, shaking.

"I hate this," she whispered.

"I know."

08:30 AM — Not Improving

Leah sat on the couch with a bucket beside her.

She hadn't eaten.

Hadn't kept water down.

Every few minutes she'd swallow hard, trying to fight another wave.

Lilly hovered — pacing, watching, thinking.

"You need to drink something," Lilly said.

"I'll throw it up."

"Small sips."

Leah tried.

One sip.

Two.

Three—

She gagged immediately, grabbing the bucket again.

Lilly's jaw tightened.

This wasn't normal for her.

Not like before.

10:00 AM — Call Made

Lilly stood in the kitchen, phone pressed to her ear.

"Yes, she's about twelve weeks," she said, voice controlled but tight. "She can't keep anything down. It's constant."

Pause.

"...yeah."

Another pause.

Her eyes flicked to Leah, curled on the couch, pale and exhausted.

"...okay. We'll come in."

She hung up.

Leah looked up weakly. "Hospital?"

"Yeah."

Leah groaned. "I don't want to go."

"You're going."

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