Well That Was Fast...

Tragedy Strikes Fast

I was sick. Not 'I-am-going-to-have-a-baby' sick, more 'something-is-very-wrong' sick. I was too hot, but still shivering, I had a horrible pain around my stomach area, and I had been throwing up every hour. I had only been living with Barry for about two and a half weeks when all this started happening, so naturally he thought he had done something wrong. I explained that I hadn't been feeling right for a few days, so it was probably just a cold and nothing to worry about. But it progressively got worse and I finally told Barry when I went to the bathroom and saw blood in my underwear. He of course scolded me before taking me to the hospital.
Martha, as I later learned, was the same nurse I had had before.
"Ophelia Fraser, age nineteen. What can I- wow you look horrible."
"Miss Martha, she's really sick," Barry said from holding my hand from where the chair next to the examining table I was sitting atop.
"I can see that, Mr Allen. When did this begin?" she asked feeling my head for a fever.
"What's today?" I asked in a whisper.
"Thursday," Barry whispered back.
"Uhm, last Tuesday? I wasn't sure til Sunday," I told Martha and shifted to get comfortable.
I could tell she was trying not to show any reaction on her face.
"Let's do an ultrasound. Are you okay with that, Mr Allen?"
Barry nodded with a squeeze to my hand.

The gel was still as cold as the first time, just less shocking. Martha went through the procedure quickly never changing her face.
"Mr Allen, may I speak to you in the hallway for a moment?"
Barry nodded and followed the nurse into the hall. I could see only Barry's face as Miss Martha wasn't facing me. She put a hand on his shoulder as she was talking. A tear slipped down his cheek before his face crumpled completely. I suddenly felt my stomach drop. They came back in as he wiped his face.
Miss Martha held my hands in hers saying, "I'm sorry, Ophelia, you're having a miscarriage."
"What."
Barry looked like he was going to cry again so I let him off the hook, "You can cry, I mean, I am" I had only made halfway through the sentence before I was a sobbing mess. He held me close, nose in my hair, crying with me. He took me home to his apartment and had me shower before going to bed. Instead of going to my own room he had me go to bed with him. He laid with his face tucked under my chin, body wrapped around mine.
"Don't want me to be by myself?"
"No, I don't want to be alone," he sighed into my neck.
"I love you," I mumbled against his brown waves.
"What?"
"I love you. And I'm sorry you had to go through this with me," I said louder, lifting my face slightly.
I felt a kiss land on my throat.
"Can you do that again? It felt nice," I asked.
I felt another, this time on the underside of my jaw.
"One more?"
Yet another one, slower and just under my ear. I opened my mouth, but Barry cut me off, "Let me guess, just one more time?"
This sent me into a fit of giggles, which I really needed.
"We'll get through this together, okay?"
I nodded taking in the scent of his shampoo and cologne happily.
"Hey Bear?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad you're in my life."
"Me too."

The next morning, I threw up again. Not as much as before, so I was happier.
"Phee? Do you need anything?"
"Nah, I'm going to just brush my teeth and go back to bed if that's okay with you?" I said after I had rinsed my mouth. He took a moment to think,  "I'll make you some soup, you should eat."
I nodded and followed him to the kitchen. I sat at one of the bar stools and swung my feet as I looked around.
"Hey, Bear?"
"Yeah?" He didn't even look up from what he was doing.
"Kiss me?"
Suddenly he banged his head inside the cabinet where he was looking for a pot.
"What?"
I held my arms out in front of me wide and pursed my lips. I laughed as I watched Barry's freckled face turn red. 

Laughing harder, I opened my arms wider, "Kiss. Gimme kiss."

Barry had started to resemble a ripe tomato, so I waddled over to him.

"Why are you walking like that? Does it hurt? Do you need to throw up again? Do you feel sick? Sit, I'll get you some juice," the words were practically a blur as he said them.

"Bear, my love, I'm fine. I've definitely been better, but I'll live," I said sitting on the closest stool. I took the cup of apple juice offered to me with a smile. I was picking at a small chip on the edge of my cup when i felt Barry's hand tilting my chin up. His lips pressed against mine gently, pulling away almost as fast as it had begun. 

He grimaced, "You didn't brush your teeth did you?"

I shook my head, "No, why?"

His face scrunched up, "You may or may not have morning breath...." I covered my mouth, how embarrassing.

I ate the soup when it was done and drank some more juice before going to lay down on Barry's bed.

"Is there any particular reason you're in here?" the mentioned man asked my blanket burrito. I shrugged from under the covers. He climbed in next to me and curled so his face was pressed against my shoulder.  

"How you feeling?" he asked, breath hot against my neck. I wiggled around so I was facing him and stuck my tongue out. "Oh it's like that huh?" His fingers dove to my sides tickling me and laughing at my hysterical giggles.  When I felt like I would pee my pants, he finally stopped, pulling me into his chest. 

 "We're going to be okay right?" I asked, my voice muffled against his shirt. I felt him nod against the top of my head. For the first time in the months since the night I was saved from my now ex-boyfriend, I felt safe and warm.