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Words: 1,442
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The sound of the toilet flushing echoes in the small bathroom. Devyn closes her eyes against the noise and leans back against the wall, the cold floor seeping into her warm legs. It's as if now that she knows she's pregnant, all those symptoms she's heard about are hitting her full speed.
Fatigue, check. Nausea and morning sickness, most definitely. Mood swings here and there. All smells are suddenly so strong and they make her stomach turn. Devyn's never had a big problem with heartburn before but now...Yes, she's growing a human being inside of her but really? Are all those things necessary in order to do that?
Pulling herself to her feet with a quiet groan, Devyn rinses her mouth out before brushing her teeth. She'd love nothing more than to eat something to feel the empty void that is her stomach, but the thought of food nearly has her leaning over the toilet again. Instead, she climbs back into bed and grabs Spencer's pillow. She hugs it to her chest, burying her nose in the fabric that smells like him before taking a deep breath.
When she wakes again Devyn munches on saltines and sips ginger ale while getting ready for work. She can't help but think about how much she wants to call Spencer, talk to him about this whole thing but then she remembers she can't. Because he doesn't know. Because she hasn't told him yet.
It's because he's not here, she tells herself every time she starts to feel bad about not telling him. She had had the chance before he left, sure, but she just couldn't get the words out. Then he was rushing off to work and she'd just...kept her mouth shut.
But he'll be back soon and then she'll tell him. Devyn isn't sure how she hadn't just blurted it out to him the second she saw him after finding out because now she wants nothing more. She wants to tell the love of her life that they're having a child together. She wants to see all the emotions flash across his face only to settle on pure joy. She wants him to hug her and be as happy as she is about this. And she hates to admit it, but she wants him to be scared with her. She doesn't want to feel alone in this anymore.
"Why'd we get stuck with the night shift again?" Devyn asks Richard only a little ways into their shift and the man shrugs, waving his hand around. "Whatever," She shrugs. "I slept all day anyway."
"You shouldn't be working so much," Richard states his opinion and Devyn turns to him.
"Don't do that," She shakes her head. "Don't start treating me like I'm made of glass and incapable, okay? I'm pregnant, not...handicapped."
"I know," Richard mutters but he still thinks to those calls they sometimes get. Flashes of a concussed Devyn flash through his mind but he shakes his head.
After a call, Devyn steps away for a bathroom break and pukes out what little food she has in her stomach. Apparently, morning sickness is really all-day sickness. When she exits the stall with a yawn, Devyn smiles at the lady at the sinks before washing her hands and splashing her face with water.
She doesn't know the woman but her eyes stray back to her and down to her stomach. her very pregnant stomach.
The woman gives a muffles wince but she chuckles, her hand coming to rest over her baby bump. "He's been kicking so much today," She tells Devyn when she catches the younger woman's eye. "I think he's ready to come out."
"It's probably getting cramped," Devyn jokes back and the other lady nods. "Um...how far along are you?"
"Thirty-eight weeks." She answers, voice tired. "Do you have kids?"
"Uh...no," Devyn shakes her head, her own hand going to rest over her stomach absentmindedly.
"The sickness...and you hesitated," The woman turns to her and leans her hip against the sink. "Are you...?" She trails off and looks to Devyn's hand.
"Yeah," She admits, her lips pulling back into a smile. "I just found out, a few days ago."
"Well it's not easy, I won't lie," The woman starts again - Devyn really needs to learn her name. "But this is my second and, despite the aches and stretch marks, my kids are the greatest thing I've ever done."
"Is it normal to feel this scared? Because I'm terrified." Devyn confides in the stranger, letting out a watery laugh.
"Oh, dear, of course it's normal," She nods, her dark hand reaching out to rest on Devyn's shoulder. "It's natural. You're going to have a little human you'll be in charge of. You're creating a life. But despite the fear you feel, the joy will be so much stronger."
Devyn wipes her eyes with a small laugh. "Everything makes me cry now and I don't like it."
The other woman laughs as well and nods. "Yes, that will happen. But not forever. I used to cry, then everything made me mad, and then I felt completely normal. Of course, it's different for everyone but..." She trails off with a shrug.
"Thanks for all the advice."
"No problem."
"It was really good talking to you but, I gotta get back," Devyn points towards the door then gestures down to her paramedics uniform and the woman nods, waving her off.
Pushing the bathroom door open, Devyn exits into the hallway and jumps back almost immediately. "Sorry, Macey," She apologizes to the nurse who smiles, quickly telling her it's alright before rushing away.
"You good?" Richard asks when she rejoins his side and she nods while gesturing over her shoulder.
"Yeah, just had a heart to heart in the bathroom with a stranger," She snorts.
"Of course you did," Richard mumbles before motioning for her to follow him back to the ambulance.
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Both Richard and Devyn are eating caramel popcorn when they get their next call. Devyn hurries to close the box of food as the dispatcher tells them the problem - a possible broken leg - before she rattles off the address.
"That's the warehouse district," Devyn observes and Richard sighs.
"Eh, teenagers most likely."
"Yeah, I guess," Devyn agrees. "Lot of open ground, great place to skateboard."
"Speaking from experience?"
Chuckling, Devyn shrugs. "Maybe."
The part of town the two paramedics enter is darker than the rest. The number of streetlights dwindle, a few without working bulbs, but the lights from the ambulance provide enough light.
"This better not be a prank call."
"People actually do that?" Devyn questions with a glance towards her partner. She knows how teenagers can be, but fake calling in an emergency is just low. That could be taking away help from someone who really needs it. She's not against having fun but possibly killing someone is not fun.
"Yup, I'm surprised we haven't gotten one since you started."
"Okay, well, I don't see anyone, so, what?" Devyn asks, eyes scanning the surroundings she's able to see. "We go look?"
"I go look," Richard corrects and Devyn rolls her eyes but before she can protest, he's already climbing out of the vehicle.
"I go look," Devyn mocks under her breath, making her voice deeper in an attempt to match Richard's. Sighing, the young woman looks around before shakes her head and opens her door. "Rich?"
"Devyn-" Devyn knows something is wrong immediately. Richard never calls her by her first name. Ever, he just doesn't do it. It's always Miller or Kid. Sometimes idiot. But never Devyn.
But despite the little warning, her heart still drops when she sees the gun. Both of them. Devyn's had a gun pointed at her before but the past experience doesn't help.
The guy behind Richard keeps his gun pointed at his head while his friend's attention moves to Devyn. "Good," The twitchy one as Devyn has dubbed him in her head, nods. "Don't do anything stupid and maybe we won't shoot either of you."
"What do you want?" Devyn questions, her hands raised slightly at her sides.
"You and your buddy here," Twitchy gestures, with his gun, between her and Richard. "You're going to save our friend."
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1. Cliff hanger! Love those! Don't you guys?
2. I think this whole plot area was the main idea for this story. I had it in mind the whole time.
3. So, pretending that you don't hate me right now, what are your thoughts? What do you guys think is going to happen?
Thanks for reading! Twenty-four hours until you guys see what's next! Feel free to yell at me in the meantime.
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