Lovers & Enemies

Chapter 13: The Nightmare & The Phone Call

Lovers & Enemies

© Kaci Lancaster

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Don’t tell me that the sky is the limit, because there are footprints on the moon.

I coughed. Michael reached over encouragingly to hold my hand and kissed my forehead, ignoring the sweat. My muscles stretched as I forced another push toward the lower half of my body. The doctor’s cries of orders sent shocks through my body. I was stressed enough; did he really have to scream at me? Stupid prick.

I gave one final push and collapsed back onto my pillow, panting loudly. I was so weak at this point. I watched as he reached toward me and then stood up, cradling the small form in his arms. The doctor yelled loudly again and I saw him rush across the room. After that, I don’t remember anything.

My eyes flickered open, the sunlight shining on my face. When I saw Michael sitting in the chair next to me, I smiled at him. He didn’t smile back. My vision became clearer and I started to sit up, only to fall back down. I was still sore and weak. I couldn’t move. My throat itched and my nose was running, but other than that I didn’t feel too sick. I just felt weak. And the nurse said that I will for a while.

I looked back up at Michael, his blank face depressing my weak one even more. What was wrong with him? Shouldn’t he be happy? I just had our baby…

Clearing my throat, I grabbed his hand. “What’s wrong?”

Michael shook his head, a tear escaping from his eye. I became sad at that point as well. My throat clenched up and I was trying not to sob aloud. Just seeing him cry made me cry. “Mikey?”

“…Alex…you have to know…”

I stared at Michael with a curious face. I really didn’t know what he was talking about. Why couldn’t he just tell me? Why’s he stalling? “What?”

He sobbed, leaning forward and pressing his face against my lap in the blankets. My hands became lost in his dark, wavy locks and for a minute, I forgot I was crying. Touching him made me a little happier, but I still didn’t know what he was talking about.

“Michael, just tell me. I won’t be mad,” I explained and kissed his head. He sat up again and stared back at me with sad eyes.

“…The baby didn’t make it.”

I screamed and sat up, my eyes ripping open. My eyes were wet from crying and my hand was clutching my, almost, flat stomach. I was finally starting to show. Just a little…but it still counted. My eyes were blurry for a short second but then they cleared and that’s when I saw.

That’s when I saw that I wasn’t in the hospital. I was in school, in class.

Everyone’s attention was on me, their suspicious looks sending shivers down my spine. They continued to look at me until Miss Reeves walked up to me. She stood at the end of my desk. “Are you okay, Alexa?” She asked quietly as she crouched down. I sobbed again.

“I’m…uh-I’m fine,” I wiped my nose and blinked away the tears and stared at the front white board where she was drawing conclusions for equations. My vision cleared and un-cleared for a few seconds before I finally looked away. Miss Reeves was still crouching in front of me. It was starting to freak me out.

“Are you sure?” She asked again, sadness in her eyes. “I can send you down to the counselor if you want. Maybe you should calm down a bit.”

I shook my head. “I’m okay, now.”