The clinic was colder than I expected. Or maybe it was just me. My nerves had a way of making everything feel heavier, sharper—like the air itself was pressing against my skin. I hugged myself tightly, my jacket zipped up to my chin even though I knew I’d be shedding it in a few minutes.
Sarah sat next to me, scrolling through her phone with the kind of calm I wished I could borrow, just for a second. I stared at the floor, the tiles blurring as my thoughts raced.
“Emma, you’re going to be fine,” Sarah said, her voice soft but steady. She must’ve felt the tension radiating off me.
“Yeah,” I whispered, but even I didn’t believe it. The dream from last night still clung to me, vivid and haunting. Twins. One child Caleb’s, the other Logan’s. It was absurd—impossible. Dreams didn’t mean anything. Right?
The nurse called my name, and my heart sank into my stomach.
“You’ve got this,” Sarah whispered, giving me an encouraging nudge as I stood.
I followed the nurse down the hall, feeling like I was walking to my doom. Every step felt heavier than the last. The exam room was small, dimly lit, with an ultrasound machine humming quietly in the corner. The nurse handed me a gown and pointed to a little partition for privacy.
“Dr. Patel will be with you shortly,” she said, smiling like this was just a routine check-up.
Routine. Right.
I stared at the flimsy gown for a moment, gripping the fabric in my hands like it was a lifeline. My stomach churned. I couldn’t back out now. This was my reality, like it or not. I changed quickly, fumbling with the ties at the back of the gown.
The room was silent except for the faint hum of the machine. I sat on the examination table, my legs dangling awkwardly over the side. I’d never felt smaller in my life.
When Dr. Patel walked in, she was calm and professional, her smile warm but not invasive. “Good morning, Emma. How are you feeling today?”
“Uh... fine,” I lied.
She nodded, setting up the machine. “Alright, let’s get started. This is your first ultrasound, correct?”
“Yeah.” My voice came out shaky, and I hated how vulnerable I sounded.
Dr. Patel handed me some tissue and a bottle of cold gel. “This might be a little uncomfortable, but it won’t take long.”
Uncomfortable was an understatement. As she moved the wand across my stomach, I stared at the ceiling, trying to breathe through the anxiety that was clawing at my chest.
And then, I heard it—the faint, rhythmic sound of a heartbeat. My eyes snapped to the monitor.
“There we go,” Dr. Patel said softly, tilting the screen toward me. “This is your baby. You're 6 weeks pregnant...”
My throat closed up, and for a second, I couldn’t speak. The image on the screen was blurry and abstract, but I could see the small flutter of life. My baby.
Wait.
“There are... two heartbeats,” Dr. Patel said, her brow furrowing slightly as she adjusted the wand. She pointed to two tiny shapes on the screen. “You’re carrying twins.”
Twins.
The room tilted. I felt like I was falling, even though I was sitting perfectly still. Two heartbeats. Two lives.
“Oh,” was all I managed to say.
Dr. Patel kept talking, explaining something about due dates and measurements, but her voice sounded far away. My hand drifted to my stomach, resting there lightly. Two babies.
When I finally managed to focus again, Dr. Patel was looking at me kindly. “Do you have any questions, Emma?”
I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My mind was racing. Twins. Who were they? Logan’s? Caleb’s? Both?
“No,” I finally croaked, shaking my head. “I mean... not right now.”
She nodded, finishing up the appointment. “Alright. Well, I’m going to recommend you schedule regular visits moving forward. And, Emma, because you’re still underage, I am required to inform your parents.”
“No!” The word burst out of me before I could stop it. “Please, no. I’ll be eighteen in a few days. Just... please don’t tell them.”
Dr. Patel hesitated, her professional mask faltering. “Emma, I understand your situation, but this is legally—”
“I’ll handle it. I promise. Just give me a little time.” My voice cracked, and I hated how desperate I sounded, but I couldn’t let my parents find out like this.
She sighed, finally relenting. “Alright. For now. But you’ll need to find someone to support you through this. You’re going to need it.”
I nodded quickly, relief flooding me even as her words sank in. Support. That wasn’t something I had a lot of right now.
When the appointment was over, I stumbled out of the room, clutching the ultrasound picture in my shaking hands. Sarah was waiting for me in the lobby, her eyes lighting up when she saw me.
“Well? How did it go?”
I handed her the picture without a word. She stared at it, her mouth falling open.
“Holy shit,” she whispered. “Twins?”
I nodded, my throat too tight to speak.
“Oh my God, Emma...” Sarah wrapped me in a tight hug, but I barely felt it. My mind was spinning, my heart pounding.
Twins. My dream wasn’t just a dream. It was real. And I had no idea how I was going to handle it.