Nora’s Pov
I’ve been trying to find a job for over a week now, but every place seems to have a reason or two not to hire me. At this point, I don’t know what else to do. The fact that I’m going through so much right now only increases my anger towards Ray-and myself.
I wouldn’t be dealing with all of this if it weren’t for him. I’m sure he doesn’t even know I left town.
To be honest, I’ve wondered what happened after I left. Jess won’t tell me anything, insisting that everything has died down. But deep down, I know she’s just trying to keep me from worrying. Still, a girl can’t help but be curious.
I still haven’t gotten through to any of my family members, but Jessica has assured me that they’re fine, so I’m trying not to stress too much.
I’m not under pressure to find a new place immediately-Kate is in love and has decided to stay in Paris longer, so I can stay with her for now.
I was lost in thought when Kate knocked lightly on the door before walking in.
“You’ve been indoors all day, Nora. You’re being too hard on yourself. I’m sure you’ll find something soon,” she said, sitting next to me on the bed.
“That’s not true. I just don’t feel so well,” I admitted. I’ve been feeling sick for the past two days, which is one of the reasons I decided to stay in and rest today.
“You don’t feel well?” Kate asked, bringing her hand to my forehead.
“Wtf, Nora, you’re burning up! Were you even planning to tell me?”
She quickly ran out of the room, and seconds later, she returned with a towel and a bowl, which I assumed contained cold water.
She dipped the towel in the bowl, squeezed it out, and then placed it on my forehead.
“We need to go to the hospital,” she said, her voice filled with concern.
“I’m fine, I’m sure it’s just a little fever. It’ll go down soon,” I tried to reassure her.
“No, Nora. I won’t let you be careless about your health. Get dressed-we’re going to the hospital right now,” she said in an authoritative tone that made it clear she wasn’t taking no for an answer.
With her help, I got ready, and we headed to the hospital together.
Kate and I arrived at the hospital, its four stories of gleaming white walls standing tall against the sky. The glass doors slid open as we approached, and the cool air from inside hit my face, a brief moment of relief. But before I could take another step, a wave of dizziness washed over me.
“Kate… I don’t feel so…” I tried to say, but my vision blurred, and the next thing I knew, everything went dark.
***
When I finally opened my eyes, I was lying in a hospital bed, the sterile smell of antiseptic filling the air. The room was bright, the walls a soft, calming green, and I could hear the faint beeping of monitors nearby. My head felt heavy, and I struggled to remember where I was.
Kate was sitting by my side, her face etched with worry. When she saw I was awake, she immediately leaned closer.
“Nora, thank God you’re okay!” she exclaimed, relief evident in her voice.
“What… what happened?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“You fainted right at the entrance. The doctors rushed you in here,” Kate explained, her eyes searching my face for any sign of how I was feeling.
Before I could process what she said, a doctor walked in, holding a clipboard. He was a middle-aged man with kind eyes, and he gave me a reassuring smile as he approached the bed.
“Miss Nora, I’m Dr. Mark. How are you feeling?” he asked gently.
“Confused,” I admitted, at least this one speaks English. “Why did I faint?”
The doctor pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed. He glanced at the chart before speaking, his tone professional yet kind.
“We ran some tests after you fainted, and it turns out that you’re pregnant,” he said, watching my reaction closely.
For a moment, his words didn’t register. Pregnant? That couldn’t be right.
But as the reality of what he said began to sink in, a wave of shock and disbelief hit me like a ton of bricks.
“Wait, What? Pregnant?” I repeated, as if saying the word out loud might somehow change its meaning.
“Yes,” the doctor confirmed. “You’re about six weeks along.”
“Oh my God…” I whispered, my voice trembling, I felt shivers and goosebumps crawling up my skin.
My mind started to race. Six weeks. That meant… that meant the baby was Ray’s. The room seemed to close in around me, the weight of the news pressing down on my chest.
“How… how is that possible?” I stammered, still trying to wrap my head around it.
Kate reached for my hand, squeezing it tightly. “Nora, it’s okay. We’ll figure this out together,” she said softly, her voice steady and reassuring.
But I wasn’t sure how to respond. Everything felt unreal, like I was watching someone else’s life play out from a distance. I hadn’t planned for this, hadn’t even considered it. And now, here I was, pregnant and alone in Paris.
Dr. Mark continued, his voice calm and professional. “I know this is a lot to take in, but I want you to know that we’re here to support you. We can discuss your options, and you’ll have time to think about what you want to do.”
I nodded, though my thoughts were still scattered. Options. Choices. I wasn’t sure what to do next, or how to even begin processing what I’d just learned.
“I’ll give you some time,” the doctor said, standing up. “If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.”
With that, he left the room, leaving Kate and me in stunned silence. I turned to her, my eyes wide with fear and uncertainty.
“Kate… what am I going to do?” I asked, my voice trembling, tears threatening to fall.
Kate looked at me, her expression softening into one of empathy. “Whatever you decide, you won’t have to go through it alone. I’m here for you, Nora. We’ll figure this out together, okay?”
I tried to say something but it only got stuck in my throat, all I could do was nod my head, tears welling up in my eyes. For the first time since I arrived in Paris, I felt truly lost, with no idea of what to do next.
Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably, and Kate pulled me into her arms, softly stroking my hair.