The Italian's proposal

The consultation passed without her noticing.

She had only gone to the first appointment at her parents’ house without them noticing her visit to the doctor.

She had started taking the prenatal pills as she read about the symptoms and stages of pregnancy on the internet.

When she confessed this to Dr. Troy, his eyes widened wildly, and he wanted to jump off the nearest bridge.

“Poor baby!” he exclaimed.

That alone made Melody feel like the vilest of mothers.

“I don’t have health insurance. I didn’t know what else to do,” she defended herself. She felt it was the only thing left for her to do.

Timothy was sitting in a chair next to her. He gave the impression of being uncomfortable, but he hadn’t wanted to leave when she proposed.

“I’ll stay and check in with the doctor,” he had told her.

She trusted the angels that he would not judge her, as the OB/GYN was doing.

“I’m not saying you’re a bad person.”

“You’ve made that quite clear,” she attacked him.

“Not intended Ma’am...Miss,” the man scratched his head and continued, “Melody.”

“No. I’m not married either. Is that bad too? I thought we were in the twenty-first century, where women can be single mothers. How old are you? Thirty? You have an uncanny knack for bringing out my temper.”

“That’s a lot,” she heard Timothy mutter.

She let out a snort and raised her eyes to the ceiling.

“Let’s get on with it,” the doctor said after a few seconds of awkward silence.

She answered every question the doctor asked, about dates of last period and when she had last had sex. This question made her cough and Melody could see Timothy smile.

“What?” she asked him, crossing her arms. “Do you want to be beaten by a pregnant woman?”

“I didn’t say anything,” Timothy defended himself by mimicking her arms-crossed gesture.

“You seem to be amused by when was the last time, I had sex, do you also want to know where I did it and what positions I did it too?”

Melody’s eyes were twinkling and her nose, though small, was flaring with the air coming out. She was angry and it showed right away.

“Let’s focus,” the doctor said interrupting Melody and Timothy’s staring exchange.

“What else do you want to know?” she needed to get that over with to get the hell out of there and avoid further embarrassment, at least for the day.

She had this incredible knack for falling over, dropping things on herself, hot, cold, temperature-wise. She was a real spectacle of a clumsy person.

Since she was a little girl, she had always had clumsy feet and hands. Everything slipped, especially when she was distracted.

“Do you know if the father has any degenerative family diseases or special conditions?”

Melody felt Timothy’s eyes on her again, and she felt judged again.

“Timothy,” she heard the doctor address him for the first time since they greeted each other as they entered the office. “Would you be so kind as to leave us for a moment? I think there are things that it’s better for Melody to feel more relaxed.”

after a long moment without saying anything, mumbled

man,” she

man,” the

her temper and overwhelming her ideas, but he was certainly a good man.

stranger to him. Timothy had no business giving her his help. More so to her who he

always told

one love you. You must

if I say anything, because

every day we have the same mood or the same willingness to put up

different man from Timothy, although there was no other man like him, even

look, blue eyes, and a slightly broad nose. His chin had

“is the father involved with

understand what the point

the baby and its development;

for

be honest. To me, you’re just finishing the first trimester and that’s why you

it a little spasm,” it pissed her off that he minimized her pain, as she, and

babies and pregnant women. I’ve delivered over twenty children in less than three years. I have quite

wombs,” she

he corrected her,

“I’m sorry.”

I can see why Timothy is with you,” the doctor said smiling and shaking his head back and forth slowly as he wrote in

that conclusion, no one in their right mind seeing the two of them, would think that someone like her

of my business. Let’s

him in. Opening her eyes wide and accentuating each word. “Timothy and I are not together. No...

for the doctor was looking at her with his curious eyes,

father? Any

feeling that was beginning to take over her mind and heart. The doctor had played with her thoughts and now she

Two hours! no more. That was how long

She liked the Italian!

know anything about the father,” she

illnesses I should know about? Do you

“Aside from my bipolar...”

looked at her without laughing and began to

that,” she begged

“I see.”

I’m a little nervous,” she excused herself. “I talk a lot when I’m nervous. Well normally I talk a lot, but when I’m

talk more,” the doctor interrupted, smiling. “Don’t worry. It’s normal. You’re a new mom. It’s normal to be nervous. You’re going to do fine. Do you plan to keep the

course!” she exclaimed in

I have to ask to someone who

is not being young. Five hundred years ago women

at thirteen and got pregnant

I only know about animals and books. Of history I don’t know,” she got up with the intention of leaving. “I’m not giving up my

called out to her

I’m going to ruin my life and future by having

strong and independent if you’re going to do it alone. You’ve already got an admirer,” he gestured for her to sit down and looked at her with his eyebrows knocked down, giving

going to give it up. I won’t give my

let’s get you weighed and go get an

left the office with the little white paper prescription signed and stamped

as soon as he saw her

get an ultrasound and I’ll be right out. Thanks for all this Timothy, you don’t have to stay. You’ve lost your meeting

going to fall apart because I missed a meeting,” he told