Page 78 of Possession

“I’m going to be sick.” I dropped Declan’s hand and ran to the bathroom.

My knees hit the cool floor and my shoulders burned as I dry heaved over and over again. My stomach was empty, and I prayed for relief as the room began to spin. My fingers gripped the bowl of the toilet as I tried desperately to expel the bile from my throat. Declan kneeled down behind me, his hand on my lower back moving in comforting circles as I spit into the bowl.

“Shit, Paige, are you okay?” Lana’s voice filtered through the small bathroom.

I shook my head.

“What can I do?” Declan asked, his tone even and soothing.

I cleared my throat. “Maybe some water?”

“On it!” Lana volunteered.

I leaned over and flushed the toilet, already feeling a little less nauseated.

Declan stood, grabbed the hand towel that was hanging on the side of the sink, wet it under the faucet and wrung it out before he handed it to me. “Here.”

“Thank you,” my throat hurt as I spoke. The cold towel felt like heaven against my forehead.

“Your color is coming back.” Declan gave me a small smile.

“I didn’t realize I was that hungry.” It wasn’t normal for me to get that sick. I mean, I’d barely eaten at all after I’d left Clark and I’d been fine.

“Maybe it’s a stomach bug? Either way, I should go home tonight, let you rest.” He offered his hand and I took it standing on wobbly legs.

Declan placed his palm on my forehead as I wiped my mouth with the towel. “I think I just need to eat.” The thought of food made my stomach twist.

“I don’t know, you just got pale again.” Worry furrowed his brow.

I took a deep breath, leaning against the counter as I handed him the towel. “Will you throw this in the hamper in my room?”

He lingered in the doorway for a second before he turned to leave. I closed my eyes as I heard ice clink into a glass from the kitchen. I exhaled and opened my eyes before I reached down and opened the cabinet to grab another towel. I rummaged through a few toiletries and lifted a towel from the back of the cupboard. Just as I was about to shut the cabinet door my eyes fell onto a box of unopened tampons. The butterflies in my stomach took flight.

It wasn’t possible.

I counted in my head… I never paid attention to dates anymore. After Clark and I had tried for so long… with no results…

I was two weeks late.

There was no way.

I couldn’t conceive.

But you have before.

Clark and I had never been tested. He’d blamed me, said I’d been damned, that God would never grant me another child because of my sin.

I dropped my hand to my stomach, kneeled on the floor, and squeezed my eyes shut.

Please.

It was crazy to want this. Declan and I had finally begun to find our way… he was getting better.

Dear Heavenly Father, I beg you.

“Paige?” Declan’s anxious tone opened my eyes. “Are you feeling sick again?”

I want this, I want this. Dear God, I want this.

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