525 Checking in on Reality

(Lisa)

The lights are too bright, the sheets too crisp, and everything feels weird. I blink slowly, my head pounding. My mouth tastes like I've been chewing cotton balls for breakfast. Where the hell am I?

Then it hits me. The office. The meeting. Lance.

I sit up too fast, and the room spins like I'm on some twisted carnival ride. I feel something in my arm and see an IV. There are monitors and things stuck on me. Shit, I'm in a hospital.

A groan slips out before I can stop it, and suddenly there's a nurse by my side, her face all sympathy and no-nonsense professionalism.

"Easy now," she says, pressing a cool hand to my wrist. "You fainted, remember? You weren't responsive for a while. But the drip has done its job."

Fainted? Right. That's what normal people do when they think they've seen their dead ex-lover casually standing in a boardroom like it's just another Tuesday.

"Okay... fainted," I mumble, rubbing my temples. "Great. That's just... fantastic."

The nurse offers me a small smile. "Your bloods all came back fine. Dehydration and a lack of proper nutrition likely caused your fainting spell. When was the last time you ate?"

"Ahhh, well, yesterday, lunch... or maybe it was breakfast. Stress eating isn't exactly my thing," I mutter. "More like stress not-eating." And stress seeing-ghosts.

She hands me a bottle of water. "I'll get you some sandwiches. Try to drink some water."

"I can't eat sandwiches."

"If you want to get discharged, you'll have to. Get your strength back."

Strength? Who has time for that when you're apparently hallucinating ghosts?

I take a sip from the water bottle, the cool liquid easing the dryness in my throat. "Okay. Sandwiches it is." I need to get out of here. "How did I get here?"

The nurse tilts her head. "Ambulance. Your friend Winona is waiting out there. But you'll have to see the doctor before anyone can come in here with you."

I nod and as if on cue, the curtain pulls sideways and in walks a doctor, all white coat and efficiency. "Lisa Forbes, right?"

I nod weakly.

of life's mysteries. "Well, Ms. Forbes, everything looks good now. No infections, no viruses, just a classic case of exhaustion and a little malnutrition. But," he pauses, giving me a careful look, "I do have some news you might

telling me whatever he's about to say, I won't like

""You're pregnant."

me?" I sit bolt

goes cold. I think I'm going to faint again. My monitor beeps

calm, your heart rate and blood pressure just

out a laugh. "That can't be right.

"Positive, Ms. Forbes."

I'm pregnant with a child I've never

makes sense. The nausea, the exhaustion. I've been brushing it off as stress, but stress doesn't come with morning sickness

take a few shaky breaths and

Not even close to okay. But I'll never get

keep your results confidential as per your request," he says. "It's early, around twelve weeks according to the blood test hormone levels. You need to follow up with an OB-GYN soon.

ve

Ms. Forbes... Lisa, this is not just about

nod numbly.

stable and

"Thanks."

Lance's baby. And now I think I'm seeing

in the

the ceiling, my mind racing. Motherhood? No. That's not me. love my carefree life. I'm supposed to be stepping into Lance's business world, not carrying

That's an option, right?

just hand

have an

jotting down notes and pats my arm gently. "Just relax. Here are your sandwiches. Eat up. I'll be back with

"What the actual fuck, Lance?" I whisper. "What am I supposed to do

Her face is tight with concern, but there's something else- lingering

Lisa," she

be going crazy because I swear it was Lance standing there. I'm fucking hallucinating or

steady. "You weren't hallucinating,"

at her.

"No. Logan.

open.

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