Every single photo showed my round, swollen belly.
"What's got you so excited today?" Burton asked with a laugh.
I tucked my phone away. "It's my first pregnancy. I want to hold on to every memory."
What I really wanted was to hold on to every piece of evidence.
This time, I had photos. I had videos. I had voice recordings. And I had plenty of witnesses.
I refused to believe anything could go wrong again.
When we left the hospital, Burton helped me into the passenger seat.
"You must be tired. Close your eyes for a bit. I'll wake you when we're home."
I shook my head. "I don't want to go home. I want to go get something to eat."
He blinked, then smiled. "Sure. You're the boss these days."
In my last life, I'd fallen asleep on the drive home from the checkup.
When I woke up, the baby was gone.
This time, I absolutely could not fall asleep. And I needed to be somewhere crowded.
The restaurant was close to the hospital. Twenty minutes and we were there.
But the moment I reached the entrance, my heart sank. Six parties ahead of us.
"Want to try somewhere else?" Burton asked.
"No. This place." I walked my pregnant belly over to the waiting area and sat down.
Burton gave a helpless little laugh and went to the front counter for a number.
The waiting area was packed with people.
A waitress came over carrying a tray. "Ma'am, have a little something to tide you over. Can't let a mama-to-be go hungry."
She handed me a small bag of crackers.
I thanked her, and a sliver of relief settled over me.
With this many people watching, nothing could possibly go wrong. Right?
I leaned back in my chair, watching the steady flow of people passing by, and my eyelids started to droop.
I'd barely slept the night before. Now, sitting in the warm waiting area, exhaustion rolled over me in waves.
I fought to keep my eyes open, but everything blurred together.
...
"Selina?" Someone shook me.
I jolted awake. My first instinct was to reach for my stomach.
Flat. I froze. I touched it again.
Still flat.
I yanked up my sweater. Smooth, flat skin.
"What's wrong?" Burton crouched in front of me, his face full of confusion.
My mouth opened. My voice shook. "The baby's gone..."
"What?"
"The baby is gone!" I jabbed a finger at my own stomach. "My baby. Seven months. Gone!"
Burton stared at me for a second. Then he laughed.
"Selina, did you wake up confused from your nap? When were you ever pregnant?"
I stared at him, wide-eyed, nearly screaming.
"What do you mean I wasn't pregnant? I just had my prenatal checkup!"
Burton's brow creased slightly, concern flickering across his face.
"Sweetheart, we did go to the hospital today, but it wasn't for a prenatal visit. It was a routine physical."
Those words again.
My whole body trembled. I staggered toward the waitress who'd given me the crackers and grabbed her arm.
"You said I was pregnant just now. You gave me crackers so I wouldn't go hungry. You remember, don't you?!"
The waitress flinched. "Ma'am, what are you talking about? We've never offered complimentary snacks here."
I stood frozen. Then I fumbled for my phone with shaking hands and opened my photo gallery.
The pictures I'd taken with the doctor and the nurse were all gone.
I refused to accept it. I opened my social media.
Yesterday, after the maternity photoshoot, I'd posted the behind-the-scenes clips. Dozens of coworkers and friends had liked and commented.
That post was gone.
"That's impossible..." My fingers trembled as I kept scrolling.
Burton walked over and placed his hands gently on my shoulders. "Sweetheart, the stress of trying to conceive has been getting to you. You're having delusions."
I shoved his hands off and ran out of the restaurant.
I had to get back to the hospital. I had to find that doctor. And the nurse.
