Take responsibility.

“There's good news. Your wife is pregnant.”

Jamal stands and walks allover the room, whereas Myla holds her chest, trying to control her pounding heart from sinking.

Mrs. Mehdi, rushes to her and kisses her forehead.

“Thank you so much, Myla. You have no idea how grateful I am. I'm finally going to be a grandma.”

Patricia comes and hugs her sister-in-law. “Congrats,”

Myla faintly, smiles.

“There's also bad news.”

Jamal pauses as well as everybody else.

“It's not normal that she bleeds. So, I'd recommend she comes with me to the hospital for us to run a proper check on her. There's an upstruction somewhere, fighting the fetus' survival.”

Jamal looks at Myla, and she looks weary.

“It could be excessive stress, or something else. We're still to find out.”

“Maybe the allergies. My son had those, and she just owned it, too. You can see her laps, are bruised.”

They looks at it, and Jamal walks towards his wife.

Dr. Kay, says, “Probably, but it's rare. It could only give her those things for a while. There must be something else, boldly and earnestly trying to scrape the foetus from it's mom.”

“When did you have this? Why didn't you tell me?” Jamal touches the area.

“I didn't know. I just found out, when mom came to see me.”

Mrs. Mehdi, turns to the doctor. “Will the baby be ok?”

“I can't say much, for now.”

“What are we waiting for? Let's go.” Jamal says, and Dr. Kay nods.

“I'm coming with you guys.” Mrs. Mehdi, says.

Patricia raises her hand. “Me, too.”

“Good. Let me put together my working tools.”

Jamal nods, and looks at his wife, who is dumbfounded my the news.

“Everything is going to be ok. I'm right here.”

Myla didn't expect to get so emotional, and scared of loosing this child, though she didn't want it.

She falls into his arms, holding him tight.

“Patricia, can you please get the car keys from my desk?” Jamal instructs, while comforting his wife.

She runs there and the thought of last night comes to her mind. She looks back to see if no one is coming, then places the device under his desk, and runs back out.

...

Myla has been sleeping close to Jamal on the hospital bed, for sometime, while they wait for the results.

Jamal massages her hair and she wakes up.

“Jamal,”

“Mmm,”

“Momma is hungry.”

He smiles, “Aight, I'm going to get you something.”

“No need. I'd get it for her. Just stay next to her, and wait for the doctor could walk in”

“I'm coming with you, mom.”

They walk out and leave the couples, together.

And, the doctor walks in soon after. Myla adjust herself, and Jamal looks awed by the anticipation.

“I wish to know how the mother is feeling, now.”

“Nervous. What does the result say?”

Dr. Kay, looks at Jamal and he taps on her hair, to calm her down.

“No, I'd be fine. I just need to know if my baby is ok.”

“Yes, it will be fine, now that we've known what the issue was. The last time you got drugged, the baby was already in, and it has affected it.”

Jamal ruffles his dark silky hair.

“Wait—what?”

“The drug was the reason of your bleeding. The foetus is fighting for it's life, and I'm happy because you've been strong. You wouldn't lost it by now.”

Myla touches her stomach, shuts her eyes and takes in a deep breath.

“Why didn't the medications help?”

“Because, they were meant for a minor purpose. If we knew she was a mother then, we could've given her a drip, to flush it instantly.”

“Please, I wish to know my pregnancy age.”

“You're two months, and a weak pregnant.”

Instantly, she looks at Jamal.

“It was a mistake.”

“If it was, why didn't you tell me?!”

“Because you wouldn't have believed me.”

“Well, I don't believe you.”

He presses his lips into a thin line, while the doctor excuses himself.

“I have to leave. We'd get back to put her on drips,”

Myla says nothing, but Jamal nods. Once he's out of the room, she yells.

“This is all your fault!”

“Yes, it is. I take full responsibility. But, please, bring down your voice. It's not good for the baby.”

“Do you know what is good for the baby? If you hadn't insisted to f–ck me!”

“That's in the past, Myla. You can't change it. You're pregnant and that's what matters, now.”

“Yes, that's what you wanted! So it has to matter. But, I didn't want it!”

He clenches his jaws, and says nothing in other to keep the silence, but she says more.

“You betrayed me...”

“Myla, enough! This isn't the end of the world. I said, it was a mistake. Besides, you asked me to make love to you, and it felt so good, when I kept you down. And, now your acting as if I forced you? Common, you know better. Admit this is your responsibility, too and get over this madness! I'm so sick of it!”

She closes her eyes. “Get down.”

He hesitates, and she screams.

“I said, get down!”

Jamal descends the bed, and shuffles his hair. “I'm sorry.”

“I don't want to hear it.”

He sighs, and gives her a remorseful gaze.

...

“I told ya!” Nina exclaims, when she sees Myla.

“Oh, please, don't remind me of it, again.”

“Hi, Patri, Tiffy, and... Brehilda? She's not here?”

“She went on a trip with her fiance.” Tiffy answers.

“Oh,”

“Tiffy, I need your help for a bit.” Mrs. Mehdi calls.

“Sure. Excuse me.”

She walks away, while Nina smiles at Myla.

They hug each other, and she settles on the couch next to her and Patricia.

“This is a great surprise. But, I saw it coming anyway.” Nina says,

“No, you didn't. You just wished.”

“So, tell me, how's our little baby doing?”

“It's so unfair. You should ask how I'm doing first, then the baby. It wouldn't be strong without its mom.”

She sighs. “It's the same thing, Myla. If I ask of the baby, then I'm asking of you, two.”

“She picks a fight with anyone.” Jamal's voice echoes from the stairs.

“Mom! Please, take him away!”

Mrs. Mehdi, laughs across the room, where she leaves the kitchen and hold her son's arm.

“It's normal. The baby is giving her a hard time.” Michal walks in.

“Thank God, you're here. Please, take care of this grown boy.” Mrs. Mehdi, tells.

Michal chuckles, and taps his friend on the shoulder. “Finally you made it.”

“Yeah, and she doesn't want to see me.”

“Maybe, you don't know how to handle the new her.”

“Come, let me teach you.” he turns to Myla's direction.

“Hey, Myla!”

“Hey, Michal.”

They walk out and Myla brings her gaze to Nina.

“And you, the baby?” Myla, asks.

“We're great. It keeps kicking.”

“Aww...it can't wait to see the world.” Patricia, says

“I know right. I can't wait to see it, either.” she touches her stomach.

Myla looks down, and they bring their gazes to her.

“Myla, What's wrong?”

She hangs her head to meet their gazes. “Nothing,”

“You can't say it's nothing. I know that look.”

“I'm not—sure I'm ready.”

“For?” Patricia asks.

Nina taps her arm. “The baby.”

Patricia nods gently, then says, “Why not? You're a good big sister to me.”

“Thanks, Patricia. But, this is something different.”

Nina rest her hand on hers. “Don't be scared, Myla. You are already a great mom for keeping it. I know you'd give it all the love it needs.”

She looks at Nina, and smiles. “Thank you, Nina. Deep down, I'm longing to see this pregnancy grow. I love it already, so much. I didn't know I'd feel this way for anything or anyone the way I feel for Jamal. It's like... something has been pilling into my heart. Something, protective and possessive. Something precious to me.”

Nina smiles, lightly. “I understand.”

Myla touches her stomach. “It feels good. But—so sudden. I still can't believe I've been pregnant for more than two months, and never knew about it.”

Patricia looks at Nina, who is already looking back.

“Two months! Did he—”

“Yes, he did, the same day I decided to break my rule. That was the goddamn day!”

They look at each other, again.

To be continued...