Page 97 of Oblivion
Zoe ran after me, pulling my hair back as the acidity ran up my throat, all the way to my mouth, my body convulsing, trying to empty even the water I drank earlier.
I could hear the main door opening, hear Atlas’s voice, but I couldn’t move away from the toilet.
He came earlier to tell us that the doctor would come, but I didn’t realize that an hour had already passed. Indigo was outside with Kaiser, the two of them finally bonding and realizing that they weren’t a threat to each other.
“Zoe?” Atlas called out just as another avalanche tore through my body. Breathing through my nose I spat the saliva that pushed to my mouth, but nothing else came. “Oh shit,” came from the entrance to the bathroom and as I turned my head to the left side, I saw Atlas standing there with the doctor I hadn’t met before.
“I’m fine,” I murmured, breathing slowly, calming my racing heart.
“Did she eat anything today?” the doctor asked, frowning as his eyes went over me.
“Crackers,” Zoe answered. “But she puked those out an hour ago. Some water, but that’s it.”
“I need to examine her. Now.” He commanded, turning his back to us and walking toward the room. “She needs fluids.”
Atlas lifted me up, putting me in front of the sink and turning the tap open.
“I’m okay, Atlas,” I mumbled, patting his arm. “You can let go of me.”
“I don’t think so,” he argued. “You look ready to collapse and I’m not having it.”
I wanted to ignore him, to show him that I could stand on my own, but my knees were disagreeing with my mind, my muscles sore and painful from the lack of food and fuel in me. I put my hands underneath the cold water, splashing it on my face to try and come back from this spiel.
I washed my mouth, but even the thought of putting some toothpaste in made me press my lips together, pushing down the nausea that threatened to attack again.
Atlas led me all the way to the bed, where the doctor stood, waiting for me.
He placed his bag on the nightstand next to the bed, keeping it open. His worried eyes dragged over my body, landing on my face and the frown etched there wasn’t something I liked to see.
“We haven’t officially met, Ophelia,” he started as I sat down on the bed. “But I’ve examined you once before when Storm just brought you back and I must say—you’ve lost a lot of weight. My name is Doctor Charles.”
“Aww, is that a compliment, Doc?”
“No, darling,” he smiled, taking my hand in his. “It’s concerning, especially given all your symptoms.”
“I think I ate something, so it must—”
“I don’t think so,” he retorted and sat down next to me. I scooched further away from him, making more space. “When was the last time you had your period?” He asked, my eyes widening since Zoe asked exactly the same question.
I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out.
“Guys,” he turned back toward Zoe and Atlas. “Could you give us some space, please? I can call you once we’re done here.”
“Uh,” Zoe mumbled looking at me.
“It’s okay, Zozo,” I nodded. “I’ll call you once it’s done.”
“Just holler if you need us,” Atlas said, pulling Zoe with him and out of the door.
The doctor looked back at me, smiling softly as if what he asked me wasn’t something that could shake my entire world.
“I don’t remember. But I have an implant to prevent the pregnancy, and—”
“Implants tend to malfunction sometimes, especially when they’re there for a longer period. When was the last time you went to your gynecologist to have it checked? It should be changed every couple of years.”
“Two-three years ago,” I answered, staring at him in shock. “I can’t really remember. You’re saying I could really be pregnant.”
“I am almost one hundred percent sure that you are, Ophelia, but I can’t be sure until we do the test.”
