Heartbeats and Algorithms

Chapter 29: A Heartbreaking Turn

**Jasmine**

It was a normal Saturday morning. The kind of quiet morning I used to cherish. Xavier and I had spent the last few weeks settling into the idea of our move to New York, and while the weight of that decision loomed large, we were excited. Life had felt like it was falling into place.

But that morning, something felt off.

I woke up feeling strangely lightheaded. At first, I thought it was just from lack of sleep, or maybe the stress of everything going on. But as the day wore on, the feeling grew worse. I couldn't shake the heaviness in my chest, the waves of dizziness, and the sudden onset of pain that I tried to ignore. It wasn't like any of the normal pregnancy discomforts I had read about or heard from friends. This was something different. Something more alarming.

I tried to push it down, chalking it up to stress or maybe even nerves. But as the afternoon rolled on, the pain grew unbearable. It started as a dull ache in my lower abdomen, but quickly spiraled into something sharper, more intense. I tried to breathe through it, but every breath seemed to make it worse. My body felt heavy, and my thoughts were clouded.

"Xavier," I whispered as I made my way to the living room. I could barely hold myself up, but somehow I made it to him. "Something's wrong..."

He was on the phone when I approached, but as soon as he saw the look on my face, his voice changed, and he immediately rushed over to me. "Jasmine, you're pale. What's going on?"

The pain was getting worse, and I couldn't explain it. "It hurts, Xavier. It hurts so much..."

Xavier didn't hesitate. He grabbed his phone and called for an ambulance. The urgency in his voice sent a wave of panic through me, but I couldn't do anything but sit there, clutching my stomach as tears started to fill my eyes.

---

**Xavier**

I knew something wasn't right.

The moment Jasmine mentioned the pain, I felt a knot form in my stomach. Over the last few weeks, I had seen Jasmine go through the typical pregnancy symptoms: the morning sickness, the exhaustion, the odd cravings. But this? This wasn't normal. It wasn't like anything I had ever seen before, and I knew that this wasn't something she could just push through. I could see the pain in her eyes, and it made my heart ache.

I didn't waste any time. I called 911, my voice shaking as I explained the situation. "My fiancée is pregnant, and she's experiencing severe pain. Something's wrong. Please, get here fast."

The operator reassured me that help was on the way, but I couldn't shake the feeling that time was slipping away. Jasmine leaned against me, her body trembling, and all I could do was hold her, wishing there was more I could do.

When the paramedics arrived, they immediately took over. They hooked Jasmine up to an IV, checked her vitals, and started asking her questions. But the pain didn't subside. It only seemed to get worse.

I held her hand the entire time, whispering reassurances that I wasn't going anywhere. But the truth was, I was terrified.

---

**Jasmine**

The ambulance ride was a blur. The pain, the sterile smells, the bright lights. Xavier never left my side. He held my hand the whole time, his face full of worry, but there was nothing I could say to make him feel better.

We arrived at the hospital, and as they wheeled me into the ER, I could barely stay conscious. The pain was unlike anything I had ever felt before, and my body felt like it was betraying me. I knew something was wrong, but I didn't understand what was happening.

They moved me quickly through the hallways, and soon enough, I was lying in a sterile, white room with machines beeping around me. But all I could focus on was the pain, which seemed to tighten with every breath I took.

"Jasmine," Xavier said, his voice strained with worry. "We're here. You're going to be okay. Just stay with me."

I barely heard him as a nurse inserted a needle into my arm, trying to ease the pain. But it was only a small relief.

Just then, the door opened, and I could hear someone approaching. The voice was familiar. I turned my head and saw a figure in a white coat. It was Alana's brother.

Dr. Elijah Turner, the on-call OB-GYN for the evening.

"Jasmine," he said, his voice calm but filled with concern. He took a quick look at the chart and glanced at me. "I'm going to take care of you. Don't worry."

Xavier stood up, looking relieved but still anxious. "Elijah, what's happening? What's wrong with her? Why is she in so much pain?"

Elijah's eyes met mine, and I saw the empathy in his gaze. "We're going to figure this out," he said, before turning to the nurses and giving them a few instructions.

He moved swiftly, his demeanor all business as he checked my vitals and examined me. I could barely focus on what he was doing, the pain making it difficult to concentrate. But then, I heard him murmur something to one of the nurses that made my heart skip a beat.

"I think it's an ectopic pregnancy."

---

**Xavier**

I froze.

An ectopic pregnancy.

The words didn't fully register at first, but when they did, it felt like the world shifted beneath me. I looked at Elijah, my eyes wide with confusion. "What do you mean an ectopic pregnancy? What does that mean for Jasmine?"

Elijah's expression softened. He wasn't giving us any false hope, but there was a clear professionalism in his tone. "An ectopic pregnancy is when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. It's rare, but when it happens, it can be dangerous. The pain Jasmine is feeling is likely from the embryo growing outside the proper place, which is putting pressure on the fallopian tube."

I didn't understand everything Elijah was saying, but one thing was clear: this was serious. And Jasmine was in pain. She wasn't just physically hurting—she was scared. And so was I.

Elijah continued, his voice gentle but firm. "We're going to have to intervene. The pregnancy can't continue safely, and Jasmine will need to pass it. We'll monitor her closely and give her medication to help with the process, but she's going to need support—emotionally and physically—in the coming days."

I felt my heart sink into my stomach. I could see Jasmine's face, pale and tear-streaked, as the weight of the situation hit her. She wasn't just losing a pregnancy—she was facing the end of what could have been the beginning of a new chapter. A chapter I had been so hopeful for.

---

**Jasmine**

The room felt like it was closing in on me. My mind was in shock. An ectopic pregnancy? That wasn't supposed to happen. Wasn't I supposed to be able to have this baby?

As the reality set in, I felt my whole body go cold. I had never imagined I would be in this situation. The pain was still there, a constant reminder that something had gone terribly wrong.

I looked up at Xavier, and my heart broke. His face was filled with anguish. But I couldn't bring myself to say anything. My words felt like they were trapped inside me, and all I could do was look at him. He was trying to hold it together for me, but I could see the pain in his eyes, too.

"Xavier," I whispered, my voice shaky. "I'm so sorry. I never wanted this to happen."

He squeezed my hand tighter, his voice steady but full of emotion. "Jasmine, don't apologize. None of this is your fault. We'll get through this together. I'm not going anywhere."

I couldn't even speak anymore. I just let the tears fall as the weight of everything crushed down on me.

And in that moment, I realized that we weren't just fighting for a pregnancy. We were fighting for each other.