Elena's POV
"Come on," Elizabeth said, grabbing my hand. "We're going to the drugstore."
What? I couldn't just leave work in the middle of the day.
As nervous as I was to find out the truth about this pregnancy scare, I still couldn't just leave work whenever I pleased.
"We can go after my shift."
"No way! Don't you want to know right away?"
"Of course I do. It's just..." I couldn't complete my sentence because I was cut off by Elizabeth.
"This is serious. We are going now."
I didn't want to argue with her especially with the tone of finality in her voice.
We left the ladies and went back into the cafe. With my head bent, I tried to walk behind Elizabeth as quickly as I could but unfortunately, I was stopped.
"Hey!" His loud voice made me jolt in fear. "Where do you think you're going?"
I turned around to see my manager staring back at me with fury in his eyes.
"I was just...I was..."
"You were doing what?" Mr Goldstein bellowed angrily.
"I was just escorting her to the clinic. She's not feeling too well." Elizabeth interfered.
"Was I talking to you?" Goldstein directed his anger towards Elizabeth.
"I have given you several warnings but you failed to cooperate," he turned back to me. "I'm afraid I have no choice but to let you go."
"Wait? What?" Elizabeth exclaimed.
I was too stunned to speak. Today was really turning out to be a nightmare.
As I stood there on the spot, my vision started becoming blurry until I saw nothing but pitch black.
When I opened my eyes, I was quite confused by the view around me.
I had to blink a few times for my sight to clear up. That was when I realized that I was in a hospital room.
How did I even get here?
The last thing I remembered was me trying to throw up in the bathroom at the cafe and then...
Oh no!
I'm pregnant.
I looked down at my tummy. Even though it was covered by the hospital gown, it looked very much the same. Flat.
I really hoped, with everything in me, that I was actually not pregnant.
Just then, Elizabeth walked into the room with a relieved look on her face.
"I'm so glad you're okay. I was so scared when you passed out in the cafe."
"Yeah, I barely remember that. All I knew was that Mr Goldstein had stopped us from leaving. That was the last thing I remembered."
"Well, after you fainted, Elliot stepped in."
"Elliot?"
"Yeah, why didn't you tell me that he owned the cafe?"
"I also just found out." I defended myself.
"Well, it's good because he fired Goldstein."
What?
My hands flew over my mouth in surprise at the information.
"You're lying."
"No I'm not," Liz smiled. "Just before we left for the hospital, he sacked Goldstein for the maltreatment of his staff."
"Oh wow."
"I know right?" She grinned. "So you definitely have your job back now."
My joy was halted when I remembered the reason I was in the hospital in the first place.
"Liz?" I called softly.
She took in the look of worry on my face and the smile on her face dropped slowly.
"Yeah?"
"Am I pregnant?"
As I asked the question, a niggling feeling in me already knew the answer. I just needed to confirm it by hearing someone say it out loud.
Elizabeth took a deep breath before nodding her head sadly.
"Do you know who the father is?"
"Yes...I mean no."
"Huh?"
"I know who he is. He was the first and only guy that I've been with but I don't know his name..."
"What do you mean you don't know his name?" Liz asked in bewilderment.
"Everything happened so fast that I didn't realize that I didn't get his name."
"Girl what?"
"I know...it's bad."
"Do you at least have his number?" She asked. "Just in case we wanted to contact him."
"I don't...I was intoxicated so I was not thinking straight at all."
This wasn't me at all. The alcohol coupled with the charm of the mysterious guy has left me in this complete mess.
Tears welled in my eyes and Liz moved closer to me when she noticed.
"Hey, don't cry about it," She placed an assuring hand on mine as she tried to comfort me. "There are options, trust me."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean...you don't have to keep the baby if you don't want to."
"Oh."
"I spoke to the nurse just before I came in and she said that you can have the abortion now if you want."
I really hadn't thought that far ahead yet but I knew that abortion was not really my cup of tea.
"Look, I know what you're thinking. You want to give the child a chance at living and all but you have to consider the fact that you can't afford this."
She was right. I can barely keep my own head above water let alone another person's.
"I get that but I still need some time to think about it. This is a big decision."
"That's fine. We can always come back later if you change your mind."
"Yeah..."
Just then, the door creaked open and Elliot walked in. He was holding a brown paper bag that seemed to be filled with food.
"I figured you would be hungry."
"Oh you didn't have to," Elizabeth chimed in but he frowned at her.
"Of course I did. She passed out in my cafe. It was only right for me to do this."
"Thank you," I finally said. "Liz told me what you did. You've been too kind."
"It's my pleasure. You don't have to worry about Goldstein anymore."
"Yeah, she told me..."
"I've found a better replacement," he said with a satisfied smile.
Wow. So soon?
"That was quick," I smiled tightly. "When is he starting?"
"She's a woman actually and she's starting as soon as she's discharged from the hospital."
