I'm Not That Perfect

"How have you been, Miss Carter?" Dr Hepburn asked as I sat down in the chair in his office.
"Busy. Pregnant." I laughed. Austin squeezed my hand.
“So you’re about fourteen weeks. Just into the second trimester.” Dr. Hepburn said, looking over. “I can't hear the baby’s heartbeat.”
"Is that a problem?" I asked nervously.
"Shouldn't be. We'll do the actual ultrasound in a moment. First we need to talk about your medical history. Anything long term? Surgeries, allergies?” He asked.
“I’m allergic to tomatoes. Never had any surgeries or anything like that. I’ve been perfectly healthy except for the one time I got the flu when I was like, sixteen.” I replied.
“Genetics. Do you know of any kind of genetic disorders in your family?” He asked.
“Not mine. His, though.” I looked at Austin.
“I have Marfan Syndrome.” Austin said, looking at the floor.
“There’s a 50/50 chance this baby could have it as well. Treatment these days has made enormous strides from what it used to be. We’ll be able to diagnose and treat the baby as necessary. I wouldn’t worry about it too much.” Dr. Hepburn replied. “We need blood samples from you, Miss Carter, and then you’re good to go.”
“Sure, sure.” I nodded. The doctor left and I looked at Austin. “Hey, cheer up. We’re having a baby, for Christ’s sake.”
“I’m perfectly happy. So happy.” Austin replied, grinning at me. “I’ll even hold your hand when they put the needle in.”
“My hero.” I sighed, leaning up to kiss him. The doctor came back to take my blood and I winced when he stuck me. I hated needles.
"Alright, here we go." Dr Hepburn said after I'd lifted my shirt up. He put the detector on my stomach and my baby appeared on the screen. I smiled, my eyes watering. My baby.
"Doc. Doc, what's wrong?" Austin asked. I looked over; the doctor looked very grave.
He sighed, looking over at us. "There is no easy way to say this. Miss Carter, the umbilical cord is knotted. Your baby is dead."
**
My baby. They took my baby. They drugged me and took the little thing when it never had a chance. The doctors said the cord tangled during week twelve. It wasn't my fault, they said. I shouldn't blame myself.
Most women go into labor expecting to meet their baby; I never got to hold mine. They induced me into labor so that I could deliver my little heartbreaker. They took my baby from me as soon as I pushed it out. I never even got to see my lemon-sized baby.
Austin wasn't there. I went into labor and he wasn't there. He was supposed to be there and he wasn't. I delivered that baby alone. More alone than I had been in a long time. Instead, Alan and his friend Maddie waited outside while I birthed a dead child.
"Come on, Avery." Alan said, he and Maddie both putting one arm around my shoulders. "Let's get you home."
"Austin?" I murmured.
"He's not here." Alan replied. I silently walked away from my baby that I never got to meet. Maddie and Alan drove me home and I walked in, still wondering where Austin was.
I found him. The first thing I saw whenever I opened the door was his lips on some bleached blonde whore.
"Ave?" He asked, rubbing his eyes. "Where have you been?"
I turned and walked away. I had been delivering our dead baby and he had been fucking someone else.
"Ave, wait-" He followed.
I turned and smacked his face hard. "I was delivering our dead son, asshole. I guess you got what you wanted; it was a boy."

Notes

the end.
I'll have the sequel up in a couple of days and I'll post a link to it on here.