Millicent
The examination table paper crinkled under me as Dr. Hayes moved the ultrasound wand across my still-flat belly. My heart hammered against my ribs while I waited, terrified of what she might or might not find. The spotting had stopped hours ago, but the fear hadn't.
"There," Dr. Hayes said softly, turning the monitor toward me. "See that little flutter? That's your baby's heartbeat. Strong and steady."
Relief hit me so hard I started sobbing. There on the grainy screen was a tiny bean-shaped blob - my baby, Abel's baby, still safe and growing inside me. I clutched the edge of the table as tears streamed down my face.
"The spotting was stress-related," Dr. Hayes continued, printing out ultrasound photos. She'd known me since I was a kid, had given me my first vaccines, treated
