I stared at the report in disbelief, reading and rereading the words over and over again. My heart twisted and turned, a storm of emotions crashing over me.
I placed my hand on my stomach, feeling the faint stirrings of a life I hadn’t known was there.
Tears streamed down my face again, but this time, I didn’t know if they were for sorrow, fear, or the tiniest flicker of hope.
Ten minutes. That’s all it took for me to make a decision. Bringing a child into a world devoid of love—into a family like this—would only cause more pain. Not just for the child, but for me as well.
Tears slid down my cheeks as my heart felt like it was being torn into jagged pieces. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to look up at Adam, his steady presence somehow anchoring me in the storm of my emotions.
"Doctor," I began, my voice trembling but resolute. "Please schedule me for an abortion. Thank you."
For a moment, Adam froze, as if caught off guard by my words. Then he gave a quiet nod, his usual calm demeanor returning.
I leaned back against the hospital bed, the sharp ache in my chest intensifying with every breath I took. When Adam kindly offered to contact the police on my behalf, I shook my head.