BEYON

Lisa’s POV

“So how was the visit to the hospital?” Andre asked. He had asked that I go get checked when I began sleeping around the house.

What I didn’t tell him was that I didn’t go. I didn’t want to put my hopes up on something, only to get disappointed again like last time. I never want to feel that way again.

“ Good” I replied, plastering a smile on my face and buried myself in the cooking.

I increased the speed of the blender. Maybe if the noise was too much, he would quietly walk away from the kitchen. Andre stood in front of fridge. He didn’t pick a fruit or anything. He had already drank a glass of water, so I wondered what he was still doing. When ever the blender stopped, I would start it all over again. This was what I did till Andre gave up and walked out of the kitchen.

During dinner, Andre still did not want to drop it.

“What did the doctor say baby?” he turned to me and looked me in the eye. My mouth went dry but I didn’t dare swallow. Not with Andre watching me over his glass of water. Despite the bad lighting from where he sat, his eyes shone like a bright light in the dark on me. I knew I had to do something.

I immediately took some bread and stuffed it into my mouth.

“Nothing serious.” I said mid chew and swallowed.” She said I was fine” then I grabbed my glass of water and drank it all

“Oh” that was all Andre said. I could see that he was disappointed but then he recovered quickly. “ see I told you nothing was wrong with you” he smiled. I smiled back at him and we continued eating.

It was like he wanted to say something but on a second thought he didn’t.

Two months later, I was still exhibiting my symptoms but I didn’t still go to the hospital. I was getting relaxed and used to the eye roll and snorting whenever I spoke in the presence of Andre’s mum and sisters. I stopped crying and became stronger but I had noticed something.

There was a rift growing between I and Andre. I always wanted to be alone and said as little as possible when we were together. He too was tight lipped. I didn’t know why and I didn’t care to know. Day and night, it was like we were just roommates cohabiting. This continued till the next month.

So in that month, I was slated to donate some blood as I always did. I walked into the hospital and sat to wait my turn.

“Lisa Kay!” my name was called and I walked into the doctor’s office.

“blood group? “ the nurse asked

“O positive “

Just as she was about to get the syringe, she shook her head as she stared at me.

“ what?”

“The lady before you, had fainted after I began to take her blood so I wanted to be sure”

I chuckled. “ I am fit nurse”

“ just to be sure “ she laughed. As she checked my blood count and blood pressure, her eyes widened.

“Any problem?” I asked.

“Your blood pressure is high. Too high”

“What?” I racked my head. I ate more fruits. I exercised and this month had been my calmest. I let nothing bother me. Immediately the door was yanked open. My eyes flew to the door. It was my doctor.

“Lisa how —” she stopped mid sentence and stared into my eyes. She turned to the nurse and they exchanged a look.

“ I saw that” and they chuckled. They still had not said anything as the nurse ushered me into the doctor’s office. She took my blood and moved away.

“now Doctor you are making me scared” I said.

“wait here okay” she walked out of the room. And there I sat waiting. I didn’t know what to think. Do I have some Terminal illness? Was something wrong. My brain went through all the horrible sceneries and I wanted to die of anxiety. My heart was a Lewis Hamilton race car. I decided that if no one came in the next 10minutes, I will bolt out of the office.

Just as I was about to stand up, the door knob turned. My doctor came in. She sat on the chair and began going through some papers.

“Okay I need you to tell me the fuck is happening or else I’ll have a panic attack” I threatened. My doctor laughed.

“ I’m done” she said with a smile. I watched her face to gauge her reaction but then I remembered what she had done the last time. I couldn’t use her countenance to judge her. So I let out a breath and waited.

“ the results for the blood work is out” I clenched my eyes shut and waited. “ you are 12 weeks pregnant. It’s a cryptic pregnancy at first and I think you saw your period “I nodded enthusiastically.

My eyes widened and my mouth fell open. She laughed and then I realized she was really saying the truth. I let out a squeal and immediately clasped a hand over my mouth. I was at the hospital. They need no noise.

“your blood pressure is elevated, so see the nurse out front to take your prescription” she said. I stood up and ran to her side and enveloped her in a bear hug. She laughed.

“I suspected you were pregnant when I saw you with the nurse”

“how did you know?” I asked, my lips spread in a smile that was able to reach my ears.

“its just something my mother taught me” she said. I laughed. I have heard of that. I hugged the doctor one more time and left her office. As I left the hospital I said hi to everyone I saw. My heart was so full I was afraid it would burst.

“baby!” I called out to Andre on entering the house but then I was informed by the maids he was yet to come home. I sat and took out my phone to call him, only to see the most heart wrenching video I have ever seen, staring me in the face.