Aftermath

I

Welcome to Aftermath! Thank you for returning. This sequel explores Denise's journey of healing and hope. Your support means so much! 🥰

It's been two months, and I'm finally an unmarried woman. The divorce is finalized, and as far as I'm concerned, Preston is out of my life for good. I haven't spoken to him since the papers were signed, and I have no intention of changing that. Whether the cancer has taken him or he's on the road to recovery, I don't know, and honestly, I don't care. He's part of my past now-a chapter I've closed and refuse to reopen.

Kevin, on the other hand, is a wound that refuses to heal. He's still angry, and I can't blame him, but the way he ignores me at university stings more than I expected. He won't even look at me when we pass each other in the halls. He changed his phone number, cutting off any chance I had of reaching out. I even went to his house once, desperate to talk, but he wouldn't open the door. I tried again after a few of the university football games, but he still wouldn't budge. Eventually, I had to give up. I decided to leave him alone, even though every part of me wants to fight for him. Now, all I can do is focus on moving forward, even if it feels like I'm leaving pieces of myself behind.

I sat on the edge of the examination table, my legs swinging nervously as my hands twisted the hem of my shirt. The room felt suffocating, the white walls pressing in closer with every second of silence. My stomach churned, a mix of nerves and unease. For weeks, I'd been feeling off-dizzy spells, nausea, random cravings-and now I was here, waiting for answers.

A knock at the door broke through my thoughts, and the doctor stepped in, clipboard in hand, her expression warm yet cautious.

"Denise," she greeted with a kind smile, taking a seat on the stool in front of me. "How are you feeling today?"

I forced a weak smile. "Not great. I don't know what's going on, but I've been feeling off for a while now."

She nodded, flipping through her notes. "Well, we've run some tests, and I have your results here," she said, her tone calm but serious. "I believe we've figured out what's been going on."

My stomach knotted tighter, my heart pounding in anticipation. "What is it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

She took a deep breath, meeting my eyes. "Denise, based on your symptoms and test results... you're pregnant."

For a moment, the words didn't register. Pregnant. The room tilted slightly, and I gripped the edge of the table, blinking rapidly.

"I'm... what?" My voice cracked.

"Pregnant," she repeated, her tone calm but firm. "Based on your test results and symptoms, you're about fourteen weeks along."

"Fourteen weeks?" I echoed, shaking my head. "How many months is that?"

"Roughly three and a half months," she said, watching me carefully.

Three and a half months. My hands instinctively went to my flat stomach, my heart pounding. "How did I not know?" I whispered, mostly to myself. "I didn't feel anything-no bump, no kicks. Nothing."

The doctor gave me a soft smile. "It's not uncommon, especially in the early stages. Everyone's body reacts differently."

I swallowed hard, my thoughts spiraling. Fourteen weeks. I'd been pregnant during the worst weeks of my life-losing Kevin, watching him walk away from me in anger and heartbreak. And now? Now I had this.

"This baby," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I-I can't think of not having it. I don't care how complicated things are, or how hard it's going to be. I want this baby."