Chapter 29: "Morning Sickness"

Morning sickness, that was what she was feeling, and Maya knew she had to get up from bed quickly. She was already late for her doctor's appointment, and now, she was feeling even worse. The previous night's events with Sean were quickly forgotten as she suddenly felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She ran to the bathroom and got there just in time, her stomach churning with that familiar feeling. As she leaned against the sink, Maya couldn't help but think that she had never felt so miserable in her life. She had eaten some spicy food the night before, and now, her stomach was paying the price. The nausea worsened, and she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was going to be sick. Sean appeared beside her, concern etched on his face. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, holding her hair back as she bent over the toilet. Maya nodded weakly, still trying to process what was happening. "I think I just need some water," she managed to say, still feeling queasy. Sean quickly grabbed a glass of water and handed it to her. As she sipped it slowly, he rubbed her back, trying to comfort her. "Do you think it's something you ate?" he asked, his brow furrowed with worry. Maya shook her head, trying to clear the fog from her mind. "I don't know," she replied, still feeling unwell. "I've been feeling a little off all morning." Sean's expression changed from concern to curiosity. "Off?" he repeated. "What do you mean?" Maya took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. "I just feel...different," she said, her voice still shaking. "And I'm not sure why." Sean's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched her. "Do you think it could be...?" he started to say, his voice trailing off. Maya's eyes widened as she realized what he was thinking. "No," she said quickly, trying to reassure him. "I'm fine. I just need to get some rest, that's all." But Sean's expression told her that he wasn't buying it. He knew that something was wrong, and so did she. Maya had missed her period, and now that she thought about it, she had been feeling strange for weeks. Could it be? As the day went on, Maya couldn't shake off the feeling of exhaustion that had settled over her. She tried to push through it, but it was no use. The fatigue was overwhelming, and she found herself collapsing onto the couch, unable to do anything else. Sean sat down beside her, concern etched on his face. "We need to get you to the doctor," he said firmly. "I think we need to figure out what's going on here." Maya nodded, still feeling a little queasy. She knew that Sean was right, and she needed to face the music. She was due for a check-up anyway, and maybe this was the perfect opportunity to get some answers. The doctor's office was not far from their apartment, and Sean insisted on taking Maya there. As they sat in the waiting room, Maya couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. What if it was something serious? What if... The doctor called her name, and Maya stood up, smoothing her dress. Sean stood up too, his eyes never leaving hers. "I'm coming with you," he said, as if reading her mind. The doctor smiled and nodded at them. "So, Maya, what seems to be the problem?" she asked. Maya took a deep breath, trying to explain. "I've just been feeling really off lately," she said. "Fatigued, queasy...I don't know, it's just really weird." The doctor nodded thoughtfully. "Let's take a look," she said, and began the examination. As they waited for the results, Maya couldn't help but feel a sense of anxiety. What if it was something serious? What if... Sean took her hand in his, his eyes locked onto hers. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together," he said, his voice firm. Maya smiled weakly, trying to reassure him that she was fine. But deep down, she knew that she wasn't. Something was going on, and she needed to find out what it was. The doctor came back into the room, a smile on her face. "Maya, I think we need to run some tests," she said. "But I'm pretty sure I know what's going on here." Maya's heart skipped a beat as she looked at Sean. What did the doctor know? And how would it change their lives forever?