Recovery

Finally

Jade

I wake up to the one of the worst headaches I've ever experienced. Once I can open my eyes slightly I look to my bedside table I see a tall glass of water and two white pills under a note. I take the pills and I feel my headache slowly fade. I take the note and I read it. It says:

'Jade, I hope you're feeling better. I'm not going to be here in the morning because we're getting the paternity results at about eleven. If you're wondering what happened last night, well, I realised how stupid I am, I promise it was just an emotional rush and we were both exhausted and desperate for the sense of well, love. I won't annoy you anymore and well, I'll see around. - Yours Darren'

I slowly remember what happened last night, what I said, his face and the look in his eyes. My eyes fill slowly and I let the tears fall, I take a deep breath and I look at my phone to see the time. It's half past ten, I still have time.

I have a fast cold shower and I make myself look moderately good and I get dressed. I check the time again, ten minutes.

I start driving to the hospital and I see a long queue I beep my horn and I sigh, I have to get there in time.

Darren

I take a deep breath. I haven't slept all night and all I want right now is to curl in a ball and cry myself to sleep.

I'm sitting in the chair next to Sam's bed, it's uncomfortable but this whole thing is uncomfortable. Everything floating in my head is leaving a bitter taste in my mouth and I can't help but feel that I deserve it.

A doctor walks in. Tall and muscular but very young. He looks in the blue folder and sighs.

"Darren and Sam, paternity test?" He asks. I stand.

"Yes?" I ask and Sam sits up and gently rocks the baby.

"Are you ready to find out if your the father?" He asks, I bite my lip and I hesitate. Am I ready?

I feel a small cold hand hold mine and it squeezes mine. I look to my side and I see Jade looking at the doctor, she squeezes my hand again and I squeeze it back.

"Yes." I say and he pulls out the paper.

He reads it but his face stays emotionless.

"So?" Sam asks.

"I'm sorry, you're not the father." He says and I get hit with a mix of emotions. Obvious relief but a slight sadness. I look over at Sam who has tears in her eyes.

"I'll leave you too soak this news in." He says and leaves. I walk to Sam and I put a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry, but at least you know who's the father." I say. She bursts into tears and so does the baby, Jade takes her and calms her down while I talk to Sam.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"I wanted you to be the dad, the other guy, he wanted nothing to do with me after we slept together and when I told him I was pregnant he ran away, some people said he killed himself, don't you see? My dads in prison and my mother disowned me. I have no one!" She exclaims.

"Just because I'm not the dad doesn't mean I won't help you. Anything you need." I say and she sobs onto my shirt.

"Darren, can you take the baby? I need to talk to Sam, alone." Jade says, I hesitate but I take the baby and I walk outside so I can see what's happening but I can't hear anything.