𝗔𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗟 𝟯𝗥𝗗, 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟰 — 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗞𝗔𝗡𝗘, 𝗪𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗧𝗢𝗡

𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗔 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗥𝗬

"𝗬𝗢𝗨'𝗥𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗡𝗔𝗡𝗧." 𝗗𝗥. 𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗘'𝗦 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘 was gentle but firm as she delivered the news, her eyes fixed on Della's face to gauge her reaction.

Those two words hit Della like a thunderbolt, causing her eyes to widen in shock and her breathing to become increasingly rapid. She stared at Dr. Nicole, who was holding the pregnancy test in her hand, as if hoping the doctor would suddenly laugh and say it was all a mistake.

"Della?" Dr. Nicole's concerned voice cut through the silence as she observed the teenager's chest rising and falling rapidly. Della's gaze remained frozen on the positive pregnancy test in the doctor's hand, her mind struggling to process the life-changing information.

"No. No. No." The words tumbled out of Della's mouth in a panicked gasp as her hands grew clammy with anxiety. "No. No. No." She repeated, shaking her head vigorously, her denial palpable as Dr. Nicole carefully set the pregnancy test back on the nearby tray.

Sensing the growing distress in her young patient, Dr. Nicole quickly rose from her chair and approached Della. She placed her hands gently but firmly on Della's arms, squeezing softly in an attempt to ground her. "Della," she said, her voice calm and reassuring, "Della, sweetie, you need to calm down. Try to take some deep breaths with me."

"I can't be pregnant," Della gasped out, her voice trembling with fear and disbelief. "I can't... This isn't happening. It can't be real." Her words were barely above a whisper, revealing the depth of her shock and confusion.

"Sweetie, I know this is overwhelming, but you have to calm down," Dr. Nicole repeated, her tone patient and soothing. "Just breathe, Della. In through your nose, out through your mouth. That's it, nice and slow."

Della shook her head, her eyes brimming with unshed tears as she looked up at the older woman. "I can't be pregnant," she repeated, her voice breaking as the reality of the situation began to sink in. A single tear escaped, rolling down her cheek as her eyes glossed over with emotion.

"It's going to be okay, Della," Dr. Nicole assured her, doing her best to comfort the distraught teenager. "I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but we'll figure this out together. First, though, you have to calm down. Once you're feeling a bit more settled, we can talk about your options, okay?" Dr. Nicole's voice remained soft and calming, its steadiness providing an anchor for Della in the storm of her emotions.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, Della began to nod. She allowed her clenched fists to relax, her fingers uncurling as she focused on Dr. Nicole's words. With a conscious effort, she let her lungs expand, taking in deep, shaky breaths. Each inhale and exhale was a battle against the panic threatening to overwhelm her, but gradually, she managed to regulate her breathing.

As Della's breathing began to even out and her initial shock subsided, Dr. Nicole gently removed her hands from the girl's arms and returned to her seat. She gave Della a moment to collect herself before speaking again. "Are you ready to talk about your options?" the older woman asked gently, watching as Della raised her hands to wipe away the tears that had fallen during her moment of distress.

Della nodded softly, sniffling as she tried to regain her composure. Recognizing that the teenager might need a moment to gather her thoughts, Dr. Nicole offered, "Would you like some water? It might help you feel a bit better."

"Yes, please," Della whispered, her voice hoarse from crying. As she spoke, her fingers began to twiddle together nervously, a physical manifestation of the turmoil she was experiencing internally. Responding to Della's request, Dr. Nicole stood up and made her way to the small sink in the corner of the room. She selected a cup from the stack beside the sink and filled it with cool, clear water.

"Here you go," Dr. Nicole said softly, returning to Della's side and offering her the filled cup. The simple act of kindness seemed to further calm the teenager, providing a moment of normalcy in the midst of her emotional upheaval.

"Thank you," Della murmured gratefully, accepting the cup with slightly trembling hands. She brought it to her lips, taking small sips as Dr. Nicole retrieved a pamphlet from the counter and settled back into her seat. The cool water helped to soothe Della's throat, raw from her earlier gasping and crying.

"So, Della," Dr. Nicole began gently, her tone professional yet compassionate, "there are three main options we need to discuss." She opened the pamphlet as she spoke, turning it so that Della could see its contents. "These are abortion, adoption, and keeping the baby." Dr. Nicole's voice remained neutral as she listed the options, allowing Della the space to consider each without feeling pressured. "Let's start with abortion. This option-"

"No," Della interrupted, her voice suddenly firm despite her earlier distress. She shook her head emphatically, her decision on this particular option apparently already made. "I'm not getting an abortion. I can't... I won't do that."

"Okay," Dr. Nicole nodded, her tone understanding and free of judgment. "That's entirely your choice, Della. So, let's focus on the other two options: keeping the baby or giving it up for adoption." She paused, allowing Della a moment to process before continuing. "When it comes to adoption, we would work to find a suitable family who would take the baby after you give birth. Alternatively, you have the option to keep the baby and raise it yourself. It's important to know that with these two options, you don't have to make an immediate decision. You still have plenty of time to consider what's best for you and the baby."

"Okay," Della nodded, her voice small but steady as she began to engage with the information. "If... if I were to choose adoption, how can I be sure the baby would go to a good home? Would they go to a family that would love and take care of them properly?"

"Absolutely," Dr. Nicole assured her, nodding emphatically. "The adoption process is very thorough. When someone is looking to adopt - and it's usually either a couple who can't have children of their own or a woman unable to conceive - they undergo multiple screenings, tests, and observations. This comprehensive process ensures that they are a good fit for the baby and capable of providing a loving, stable home."

"Okay," Della nodded again, absorbing the information. Her fingers had stopped twiddling, and she seemed to be calming further as she focused on the practical aspects of her situation.

"Remember, Della," Dr. Nicole continued, her voice gentle but firm, "you don't have to make this choice right now. You have months ahead of you to decide what you're going to do." She picked up the pamphlet she had been referencing. "I'm going to send you home with this informational booklet. It will allow you to read through everything at your own pace and really think about your options. Under each option, you'll find details about the process involved and what you can expect. This should help you make the decision that's right for you."

Dr. Nicole closed the pamphlet and handed it to Della, who accepted it with a slightly steadier hand than before, carefully placing it in her bag. The doctor glanced at her watch before speaking again, her tone apologetic. "I'm sorry to have to wrap this up, but I have another appointment scheduled soon. I'm going to leave you here to take a few moments to yourself. When you feel ready to leave, there are signs that will guide you back to the waiting room, okay?"

Della nodded, watching as Dr. Nicole stood up from her chair. The doctor reached into her coat pocket and produced a small card, which she handed to the teenager. "Here's my card," she explained. "If you have any questions or concerns at all, please don't hesitate to call. I'm here to support you through this, Della." With those reassuring words and a final, compassionate smile, Dr. Nicole made her way to the door. She opened it quietly and stepped out, closing it softly behind her to give Della some privacy.

𝗟𝗘𝗙𝗧 𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗖 room, Della found herself lost in thought, her mind racing as she tried to process everything that had just happened. Her gaze wandered around the room, eventually settling on a colorful poster of fetal development stages taped to the wall. As she stared at the images, trying to imagine the tiny life growing inside her, the sudden buzzing of her phone in her bag startled her back to reality.

With a deep breath, Della reached into her bag and retrieved her phone. "Fuck..." she whispered, her eyes widening as she saw the caller ID. Steeling herself, she pressed the answer button and raised the phone to her ear.

"Where are you?" Her mother's voice came through, a mix of concern and frustration evident in her tone. "I come home from work and you're gone! No note, no text, no call! Della, you know better than this!"

"I'm sorry, Mom," Della apologized, trying to keep her voice steady despite the emotional rollercoaster she'd just been through. "I forgot I had a doctor's appointment and I had to rush out. I meant to text you, but it slipped my mind."

Della heard her mother sigh softly on the other end of the line, the anger seeming to deflate from her voice as she spoke again. "Next time, make sure you text me, okay? I was worried sick about you."

"I will, Mom. I promise," Della assured her, feeling a pang of guilt for causing her mother additional stress. "I'm getting ready to leave now, so I'll be home soon."

"Okay," her mother replied, her tone softening further. "Drive safely. See you soon, honey."

"See you soon," Della murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she ended the call. As she lowered the phone from her ear, her finger hovering over the end-call button, she couldn't help but wonder how many more difficult conversations lay in her future. With a heavy sigh, she pressed the button, ending the call and facing the reality of the long journey ahead.