Seventy-Eight

VALERIA

The doctor's deep-set, clear blue eyes looked directly into mine.

"I will need you to take a deep breath and relax, okay?" he said.

I nodded, took a deep breath and relaxed. or tried to. I stared at the ceiling as the doctor proceeded poked and proded me. I couldn't stop my mind from dwelling on what was to be the outcome of the examination.

This morning, I had felt off colour. I had panicked a little, remembering how not too long ago, I had kept going on frequent visits to the hospital. I had recalled the doctor's stern warnings about my condition and so, even though my appointment with the doctor wasn't for another week, here I was, late in the afternoon, at the hospital, waiting for the doctor to confirm that the baby and I were doing okay.

Five minutes became ten. Ten became twenty. Time seemed to crawl by and I wished he would hurry the hell up and tell me what was wrong. If something was wrong, I reminded myself.

"All done," he finally said cheerfully.

I immediately sa