Reena - Pain

It's after seven when I finally get up, drenched in sweat and my stomach hurting. It's not anything alarming but still painful. I roll off the bed and finally move to see that I'm alone in the room, with as much effort as I can muster I get up and stand for a few seconds while the pain travels down to the bottom of my belly and stays there.

I try taking a few deep breaths hoping the pain will subside but it doesn't, so I make my way to the bathroom and step into the shower. As soon as the cold-water hits, I slide to the floor and let it wash over my belly. I'm like that for a long time until the pain starts to creep back and I start crying.

When I try to get up I find that I don't have the energy to and the tears come harder because now I'm getting frustrated and as a wave helplessness begins to set in. Another piercing pain runs across the bottom of my belly again and this time I scream. I lean my head against the wall and try thinking about anything else but the pain, but nothing seems to help.

Finally I hear the door and open my eyes to see Mrs. Max. When she sees me on the floor, wet and crying she slides the door open and turns off the shower.

"Reena, oh my God." She kneels down and sweeps the hair from my face, "Are you okay, is it the baby?"

I stare up at her with a pained expression and shake my head yes. "Pain's right here." I run my hand along the bottom of my belly and she steps in, and tries to help me up.

When she finally does, she gets me on the bed and starts drying me off. "Reena, why didn't you call for me?"

"I'm sorry, I thought it would stop." My voice is so low, I'm not sure she can hear what I'm saying.

After drying me off she rushes to the closet and takes out one of Reed's big shirts and basketball shorts. She helps me get dressed in them and tells me to wait, she's going to get her husband.

After a few minutes Mr. Max rushes in and begins fussing over me, "Is it contractions?"

"No," I say a little too quickly. "It's mainly discomfort, not that much pain. I just wish it would stop."

A tingling sensation runs from my back, through my butt and down into my thighs. "I really wish it would stop."

"Reena, are you sure you don't want to go to the doctor?" Reeds' father asks and I nod, yes.

"It'll stop soon."

"Well, I guess." His mom gets up off the bed but hovers beside me for a minute, so I give her a reassuring smile and she turns to her husband whose eyes are on my belly.

"Dad?" Reed comes into the room and when he sees me, he stops.

"I'm fine." I give him a small smile and I actually watch as he releases a breath.

Without another word, both parents leave and Reed comes closer, all the time he's giving me a worried look.

"Stop looking at me like I'm a delicate piece of glass." He frowns and I hold out my hands, but not before another pain that cause me to shut my eyes and grit my teeth.

When I open my eyes, he looks even more worried. "It's just a little pain. Remember the doctor said the closer I get to my due date, the more I'm to expect some pain and discomfort."

"Yeah, I know she said that but it's still hard to see you like this."

That makes me laugh, "What are you going to do then when I start feeling contractions?"

"Pray."

I give him a wide smile and he sits beside me, holds a hand and stares at it.

"I need to tell you something." He looks up and he looks serious.

"Well, okay."

"You'll hear me out, completely?"

I nod.

He nods and begins, "I went to see Isla."

I tighten my hands into fists, of course he notices and he looks at me. "She wanted to talk to me, and well I went to hear her out."

He looks at me and when I don't say anything, he continues, "She told me she was pregnant?"

I arch a brow, "Pregnant?"

"Yes, that's why she left."

"She left because she was pregnant?" I say, all the time the jealousy and anger are burning in me.

"She claims she had the baby, well that was before she let it slip that she had an abortion."

Both my brow reach for my hairline, but I don't say anything. "I don't know if she's even telling the truth but it doesn't matter. I'm done with her."

Before I say anything, I look at him and I can see some hurt on his face. For the girl that you loved to tell you that she got pregnant but didn't have the baby, must be heart-breaking. Obviously, he thinks she didn't love him enough and now must be feeling angry, sad or even foolish for ever believing she did.

"I wish you had told me before you went."

"I know and I don't know why I didn't and I'm sorry."

I don't say anything.

"I know it doesn't look good because she's an ex and I pretty much sneaked off to see her at her request but believe me, I just wanted to hear her out and say my piece." He sighs and sits beside me, "When she left there was a lot of things unsaid then she came back and for a split second I got confused."

I turn to him then drop my head. "Confused."

"Not like that." He says quickly. "I'm not confused about us but I was confused about my feelings for her. Did I want to be done with her for good or could we be friends?" He leans forward and scratches his head. "After hearing what she said I'm convinced that the best thing for everyone involved is to just end it."

I run everything he's said and though I'm angry I try to keep it under control. "Well, I'm glad you decided what's best for you both."

"Reena please, it's not like that. Please, she was also my best friend."

I grind my teeth, "Okay."

"Okay what?"

"One side of me wants to tell you to go back to her and leave me alone and my other side is still trying to understand that she's your friend and that you wanted to just talk. Also, I just don't care but I'm also mad that you went and didn't say anything."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you." He sighs, "I just wasn't thinking and you're right it's not an excuse but I hope you can forgive me."

"You told me and apologized so I forgive you.

"But - "

I look up and our eyes meet, "If you do it again I'm leaving."

My eyes drop to my belly and drop back on the bed. He soon lies next to me and puts his hand on my belly, "If I knew then that this is where I was, I wouldn't change a thing."

"So you wouldn't use a condom?"

He laughs, "You have no idea how happy I am that I got you pregnant."

My eyes widen and I giggle. "You say the funniest things."

He kisses me on my lip, "I am serious though. It's a good thing I was reckless that night because ever since you came into my life it's the happiest I've been." He places the palm of his hand over my belly and kisses me hard.

"You think we would've dated if hadn't gotten pregnant?" I ask after he stops.

"I don't know really. All I know is that you getting pregnant, propelled you right into my life at the right time."

"You're very sweet―" Another pain causes me to stop midsentence and I hold on to Reed.

"Are you sure you don't want to go to the doctor?"

"Yes. I'm sure." I say after the pain subsides again.

I lay down across the bed and he lies next to me. "My mom will soon have dinner ready, you want to eat up here."

"Yeah."

He gets up, "I'll be back."

After he leaves, I find that the pains are less painful and more just discomforts. After a few minutes of staring at the ceiling, my breathing slows and my body relaxes and before I know it I'm fast asleep.

***

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