**TITLE: Dreams Folding Into Broken Time**
**Chapter 181**
**Chapter 110: Negative**
I loathe the sensation of being ensnared in this murky bubble of uncertainty and anxiety. Deep down, I am acutely aware that it is far too early for any conclusions. Yet, I can’t shake the nagging thoughts about the persistent dull ache in my abdomen, the discomfort radiating through my back, and the alarming fact that my period is conspicuously absent—forty-five days away from my thirtieth birthday.
Goodness gracious, I can hardly believe it—I’m getting old. Just uttering those words sends a shiver down my spine.
I’m not naive, nor am I a child. I am well aware of the signs that point toward pregnancy. In the secrecy of my own thoughts, I’ve delved into research, scrutinizing every detail. The possibility that I might be expecting looms large in my mind.
Am I ready for this? Absolutely not. Am I terrified? Without a doubt. Do I want it? Oh, without question.
Yet, a shadow of doubt lingers—what if the test yields a negative result? What if I’m actually grappling with something far more sinister than an unplanned pregnancy?
My nerves are fraying, and I can feel the tension coiling within me like a tightly wound spring.
The clinic stood in stark contrast to everything Roman’s world represented. It was sterile and eerily quiet, with muted walls that seemed to absorb sound, the faint hum of fluorescent lights creating a disconcerting backdrop, and the sharp scent of antiseptic mingled with lemon wafting through the air.
With trembling fingers, I signed in at the reception desk, my heart racing as I took a seat. I crossed and uncrossed my legs repeatedly, as if that simple motion could dissipate the anxious energy surging through me.
Around me, other women sat in various states of anticipation. One woman, visibly pregnant, cradled her belly with a gentle, absentminded tenderness that tightened my throat. Another sat scrolling through her phone, calm and detached, as if this visit were just another mundane task on her to-do list.
For me, however, this felt like judgment day.
“Savannah?”
The sound of my name jolted me from my spiraling thoughts. A nurse entered, her clipboard in hand and a warm smile lighting up her face. My legs moved on their own accord, propelling me forward.
The blood pressure cuff squeezed around my arm, the thermometer beeped, and a series of questions were posed and answered in a blur. Then, I was ushered into a small exam room, softly lit and almost serene. The paper sheet crinkled beneath me as I sat down, my hands twisting together nervously in my lap.
“Your doctor will be in shortly,” the nurse assured me before leaving the room.
And just like that, I was left alone.
The silence was deafening, my thoughts echoing louder than any noise could.
I envisioned Roman’s face if I were to tell him the news. If the test came back positive. I imagined his eyes turning cold, his jaw tightening in disbelief, the word “now” crashing down like a hammer, heavy and unyielding.
But then, in the secret recesses of my heart, another image blossomed—him holding a baby. Our baby. His dark eyes softening with love, his hand steady and protective.
I blinked hard, trying to chase that vision away. That was a fantasy, an illusion. This was the stark reality I had to face.
The door opened with a gentle click, and my doctor stepped inside, her kind eyes framed by glasses, her voice radiating warmth.
“Savannah, it’s good to see you again. What brings you in today?”
“Hi, Doctor Morgan,” I replied, hesitating as my tongue felt thick in my mouth. “I think I might be pregnant.”
The words felt foreign, reckless, and irresponsible as they hung in the air between us. I felt a flush of embarrassment wash over me for even uttering them.
She nodded gently, her expression not betraying the slightest hint of surprise. “Alright. Let’s run a test and see where we are.”
The cup I held felt absurdly small as I carried it to the bathroom, my hands trembling with uncertainty. Time stretched, each minute feeling like an eternity as I returned to the exam room, the crinkling paper beneath me echoing my racing heart.
When the doctor returned, her demeanor was calm and professional. She settled onto the little stool, her voice still soft and reassuring. “The test is negative, Savannah.”


VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: From Best Friend To Fiancé (Savannah and Roman)