Page 46 of Lie to Me

“You might not be right now, but you will be.”

My aunt Jen is my mom’s sister who has nothing to do with my father or his business, and lives in a little house in Tucson, Arizona. She teaches at the local college and told me to stay with her for as long as I need.

I give her a barely perceptible nod and she sighs, slapping her hands on her thighs before standing.

“That’s it, get up and dressed. I’ve watched you wither away in this room for long enough, get ready so we can go out.”

I know she means well, but leaving the house is the very last thing I want.

“And don’t even bother trying to argue with me. You’re free, Sloane. You’re free to do with your life as you please, so take control and be the one to take your life back. We’ll start by heading to the college and I’ll give you a tour since I know you’ve always wanted to get your degree,” she says with a wink.

She has a point. My entire life has been controlled by others, and going to college is something I’ve always wanted to do. There’s only just one issue.

“How am I supposed to pay for college? You know my father will never agree.”

She rolls her eyes, hands fisted on her hips. “Girl, you know mine and your mom’s parents had money, don’t you? If your mom was here, she’d skin me alive if I didn’t use that money for you. The only reason she left that money to me in her will, rather than you and your brother, is because she knew your father would take control of your accounts. But that money was always meant for you two, Sloane.”

Mention of my mom has tears springing to my eyes, but no tears fall. I don’t think I have it in me to cry anymore.

“Okay,” I say with a determined nod. I go to climb out of bed, only I’m stopped in my tracks as blinding pain stabs my abdomen and I cry out.

My aunt is in front of me within seconds, her arms reaching out to stabilize me before I fall forwards to the floor.

“What’s wrong? What’s happening?”

I whimper as I climb to my feet, the pain still shooting through me. “I don’t know.”

I look to my aunt, only she’s not looking back at me. No, she’s staring towards the bed. I turn to see what she’s looking at and see a pool of blood on the bed from where I just was. I look down to find my pajama pants covered, too.

“What’s happening?” I ask, my voice cracking as panic builds inside me.

“I-I don’t know, but I’m taking you to the hospital.”

The drive to the hospital was horrific. My aunt lives close to here, but the pain increased tenfold the closer we got. By the time we were pulling up outside of the entrance, I was an inconsolable mess, unable to move or talk I was in so much pain.

My aunt had to rush inside and have staff come out to get me because I just couldn’t move.

They’ve just got me settled on a hospital bed and Aunt Jen paces in the corner as we wait for me to be seen by a doctor.

“You have an idea of what it is, don’t you?” I ask when I finally can’t take the silence anymore.

She looks at me, deep sorrow in her eyes and nods slowly. I’m about to open my mouth and ask her what it is, but the door opens and a doctor strolls inside. A nurse follows closely behind him, pushing a trolley with some sort of machine on top.

“Miss O’Brien, I’m Doctor Valley and this is Rina, your nurse. Are you okay for us to check you over?” he asks, and I nod. The nurse approaches me, and her lips tip up in a small smile before asking me to lift up my shirt.

“Is there any chance you could be pregnant?” the doctor asks as he squirts something cold on my stomach, and begins moving the probe back and forth. Panic rushes through me and I try tothink of my last period, but it was only three weeks ago, so I’m pretty sure I’m not pregnant.

“I had my period last month, so I don’t think so…” I trail off as I notice the doctor’s brows furrow as he looks at the screen.

He seems to mess around with the probe and the screen forever before he gently moves the cart around and faces me.

“I’m sorry, Miss O’Brien, but it seems you were, in fact, pregnant. Some women still experience periods during pregnancy, and it appears that you were around four months pregnant. I’m so sorry for your loss, if you need…”

I don’t hear the rest of what he says.

Blood rushes to my ears as I frantically search for a way out.

Pregnant.

---