the photographer [c.h.]

twenty-seven

"Mom?" I hummed, taking a bite of my ice cream. I turned my head to look at Sophie and she sat up on the couch. "When will the baby be here?"

"About three more months, Soph." I offered a smile and she returned her attention to the movie playing.

Sophie sunk down further in the couch and I laughed a little as her eyes drooped. I heard footsteps so I turned around to see Calum coming from the workout room. There was sweat dripping off his forehead and he was chugging his water. He smiled and I swung my legs off the couch, standing up. I stretched and ran a hand over my protruding stomach, lightly shaking Sophie's shoulder so she would get up.

I helped her tired body up the stairs and put her to bed, shutting the light off. I went to Calum and I's bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed, sighing. My back has really been killing me lately and it has been so hard to sleep. I heard the shower shut off and after a few minutes, Calum came in with a towel around his waist and water dripping from his hair that hung down on his forehead.

"Tired?" He asked, grabbing some boxers from a drawer and I nodded, rubbing my eye.

Calum changed and I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I tossed my hair up into a bun and washed my face before going back to the bedroom. I grabbed a large t-shirt and changed clothes, climbing into the bed along with Calum. He turned the lights off and I tried to make myself comfortable, tossing and turning.

"Damn baby bump." I mumbled to myself and finally gave up, staring at the ceiling.

"C'mere." Calum said quietly.

He tugged me closer to his body and turned me over, grabbing an extra pillow. He put it under the bump and put one of his arms underneath my upper body. He put the other one over my bump and intertwined our fingers, tangling our legs together. I sighed in content and closed my eyes.

"Better?" He mumbled into my neck and I nodded.

"Thanks." I whispered, smiling to myself when he ran his thumb across my hand in a comforting motion.

~~~~~~~~~~

I gasped, shooting up in bed in pain. I reached down and winced at the stabbing feeling in my stomach. Pulling my hand back at the feeling of wetness, I felt tears fill my eyes. It was blood. I smacked Calum's arm and he mumbled something incoherent, turning over.

"Calum," I said and he finally opened his eyes, looking up at me in worry. "I'm bleeding."

"Did you cut yourself?" He wondered, sitting up and I shook my head, panic rising in my chest.

"No, I'm bleeding down where I shouldn't bleed if I'm pregnant." My voice broke and he got up from the bed.

"Let me call Ash to come watch Sophie." Calum mumbled, putting on some clothes.

Calum left the room so I got up, gulping at the red stain on the white sheets. I put on some new underwear and slipped on leggings and a sweatshirt. I stepped into my Vans and slowly made my way down the stairs, wincing in pain. Calum hung up his phone and told me that Ashton was on his way. Since they lived only a couple minutes away, he was there in record time.

Calum and I walked outside to his car. He helped me in and got in the drivers side, starting up the car. He pulled out of the driveway and through downtown Brooklyn, speeding to the hospital. He grabbed my shaking hand from across the center console and I swallowed hard when we got to the hospital. Calum parked and kept a hand on the small of my back as we walked inside.

"How can I help you two?" The receptionist asked and my voice got caught in my throat.

As soon as Calum told her what happened, she led us back to a room with a sad smile. I sat down on the bed and waited nervously for the doctor to come in. He did an ultrasound and Calum gripped my hand while he moved the wand around my stomach. I felt my heart sink when he turned the machine off.

"I'm very sorry, but it seems you have had a miscarriage." He said and I let go of Calum's hand, letting my own rest on my stomach.

"No, that can't be." I stuttered. "I felt him kick yesterday." My voice cracked and the doctor just frowned, standing up.

"I'll give you two a minute and then we will need to get you into a quick surgery."

He left the room and a tense silence filled the gap between Calum and I. He was about to say something, but I just shook my head, staring down at my shoes. I felt tears fill my eyes and one fell down my cheek. Calum reached over and took my hand in his, putting it in his lap. I shook it out of his grasp and pulled my knees to my chest, fiddling with my thumbs. I toyed with a loose strand on my leggings and tried to hold the tears back, not wanting to cry.

The doctor came back in and made me go change into a hospital gown so they could get me ready for surgery. I laid back in the bed and he gave me the numbing medicine to make me go to sleep. Calum held my hand as they rolled my bed out of the room and he wiped the tear off my cheek, staring down at me.

"I'm sorry." I whispered to Calum and he shook his head.

"Don't say that." He said quietly and the doctors would not let him go past a certain point. "I love you. I'll see you in a while, okay?"

"I love you too." I drug my words, finally drifting to darkness.