Chapter 11: An Unexpected Morning

Chapter 11: An Unexpected Morning Ashley woke up to the gentle morning sunlight peeking through the blinds, a sense of calmness that was quickly shattered as she felt a warm wetness spreading through her underwear. Her heart racing, she sat up in bed with a start, panic setting in as she frantically reached for her nightgown to investigate the source of the wetness. Her hands trembled as she pulled up her gown, and her eyes widened in fear as she saw the blood-stained patch on her underwear. "No, no, no," she whispered to herself, trying to stay calm. She was 36 weeks pregnant, and she knew that this could be a sign of something serious. Ashley quickly threw off her nightgown and got out of bed, making her way to the bathroom to assess the situation. She turned on the shower and began to clean herself, trying to think clearly. As she stood under the warm water, Ashley couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. She had been experiencing some mild contractions over the past few days, but this was different. This was a sign of possible preterm labor, or worse, a placental abruption. Ashley's mind was racing with worst-case scenarios as she quickly got dressed and made her way to the living room. Sarah was already up and making breakfast in the kitchen. "Hey, good morning," she said, noticing Ashley's pale complexion. "What's wrong?" Ashley tried to compose herself, not wanting to alarm Sarah. "I think I might be having some issues with the baby. I woke up with some spotting," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. Sarah's expression changed from calm to concerned in an instant. "Let's get you to the hospital, just to be safe," she said, quickly grabbing her phone to call for an ambulance. As they waited for the ambulance to arrive, Ashley couldn't help but think about all the things that could go wrong. She had been preparing for this moment for months, but she had never expected it to happen like this. The sound of the ambulance sirens outside brought her back to reality, and Ashley took a deep breath, trying to steel herself for what was to come. The ride to the hospital was a blur, Ashley's mind racing with thoughts of the baby and her own well-being. As they arrived at the hospital, Ashley was quickly wheeled into a room, surrounded by doctors and nurses. "Okay, let's take a look," the doctor said, gently examining Ashley. "It looks like you're experiencing some preterm labor, but we're going to do everything we can to slow it down and get you to 37 weeks." Ashley's heart was still racing, but she felt a sense of relief wash over her. She was going to be okay, and so was her baby. But as she looked at Sarah, who was trying to reassure her, Ashley couldn't help but wonder what the rest of the day would bring.