The Girl Who Knew

Ruby's Secret

"To her dismay, Ruby was pregnant, and she was going to have a baby."

The little girl gasped at this, and Scarlett paused for a second before continuing.

"Ruby did not know what to do. She couldn't keep it – she knew that. And she couldn't just leave it somewhere, no, tests could be done, DNA could be traced. But maybe... she flinched as the idea came to her. Maybe she didn't have to worry about that. Maybe there was a way to make sure the child wasn't born at all, like a miscarriage.

The idea was one Ruby would have been appalled to hear about on the news, but here, in her own home...well, it seemed like her only option. And with that thought she made up her mind.  But what should she use? Not poison, she didn't want to die. She sighed as she reached for her daily vitamins. She glanced at the bottle, as she always did, but this time something caught her attention.

'If pregnant, call your doctor for medical advice on amount.'

Ruby grabbed the phone and dialed her doctor.

"Hello, you have reached Danver Medical, Dr. Rollins office."

"Hi, Dr. Rollins, this is Ruby."

"Ah, Ruby, what can I do for you?"

"Um, I just.." she trailed off. Did she want people to know that she was expecting? "I wanted to ask about the effect of the vitamins on, um, pregnancy."

There was a pause. "Are you expecting, Ruby?"

"Me? Oh, no. Of course not. Um, but see, my... friend, um, she just found out that she is, and she is worried about how they might have hurt the child. She is a bit nervous about doctors, you see, and asked me to call for her."

"Oh." The doctor sounded relieved. "Well, tell her not to worry. The vitamins will not hurt the child. Actually, when you're expecting, you need to take twice the daily amount, to ensure the child's...development." He sounded a little funny when he said that last part, but it was probably just the connection.

"Oh. Okay, doctor, thank you."

"Ruby, if you come down, I can give you some vitamins to pass along to her. It would be a severe health violation for her to not take them."

"Oh, okay. Of course. Um, when is a good time for you? It's about a five minute walk, if you aren't busy."

"I'm not especially busy, no. Now would be just fine."

"I will see you shortly, then. Goodbye, doctor."

"Bye, Ruby."

Ruby hung up and took a breath. Okay, she could do this.

On the way to the doctor's, Ruby walked fast, her head down. She felt like everyone was staring, like everyone knew her awful little secret. But no one stopped her, and she arrived at the office in three minutes instead of five.

Once inside, she knocked on his office door. "Dr. Rollins?"

"Ruby. Yes, come in." His eyes scanned her, up and down, as she came through the door.

She fidgeted. "I'm here for the vitamins."

"Of course. Here you are." Dr. Rollins placed the bottle in her hand, and left his hand there as he looked at her. "You know, Ruby, you can always come to me." His hand tightened over hers. "For anything."

"Thank you, doctor. I'll keep that in mind." Ruby smiled at him, and he released her hand. She turned to leave. "Oh, Dr. Rollins? What would happen if my friend didn't take the extra vitamins?"

He looked up, serious. "Ruby, you need to make sure she does. Without the extra vitamins, she could miscarry. It is horrible, the things that can happen even in the womb."

She nodded quickly. "Of course. I'll tell her that. I'm sure it won't be a problem."

Once she was home, she sat the bottle down on the edge of the sink and stood in front of the mirror. Could she really do this? She imagined the child, how different her skin would be. Her eyes. She imagined the ridicule that she and the child would have to live through. She imagined what a dishonor it would be on Fuego's name.

She met her own eyes in the mirror. Were those the eyes of the mother, or the eyes of a murderer?

She looked away from her reflection, as she slowly poured the new bottle of pills down the drain."