That little smudge will soon be a baby.
A baby—so large—that will need to squeeze out of my vagina somehow.
“Babe, are you okay? You look confused.”
Drew knows me too well. That’s what happens when roomies become besties and then husband and wife.
“It’s just that it doesn’t look like a baby,” I answer, flatly.
“This is the most important time for the baby. The vital organs are forming and…”
My thoughts trail off as Drew continues his medical spiel. It’s all moving too fast. It seems like only yesterday we were getting married and honeymooning—having the time of our lives. We’ve talked about having kids, though it isn’t something we planned straight away.
But Drew is insatiable, and when we’re in the bedroom, behind closed doors, we’re careless. I don’t know why—or how—but all rules fly out the window when your husband is giving you the best orgasm of your life, and pulling out is such an afterthought.
A missed period and four pregnancy tests later, two blue lines confirm we are expecting.
That was three weeks ago.
Three short weeks where everything in my life has changed.
This moment—seeing your baby for the first time through a monitor— is nothing like I imagine it to be.
Firstly, I was requested to drink two to three eight-ounce glasses. I barely drank a glass of water a day let alone several. The pressure on my bladder is extremely uncomfortable, and I’m certain I’ll explode at any minute. On top of that, the waves of nausea make it difficult to lay on my back. The saliva is building up in my mouth, and each time I swallow, I want to dry heave at the same time.
I want kids. I think having a baby will be the greatest thing based on some of my favorite movies like Three Men and a Baby. If three men can raise a baby, then Drew and Zoey Baldwin can too.
But something feels off.
Like I’m lacking any emotion or maternal instinct toward this baby I’m carrying.
“So, don’t worry, babe. Soon enough, you’ll feel the kicks, and it’ll feel like you’re carrying a baby.”
“Right, so we’re all good?” Susan asks.
Drew and I nod at the same time.
Susan presses on my uterus uncomfortably and pushing me to pee again. I’m about to beg her to stop, sure that I’ve already peed on the bed when her expression changes. She appears worried, her face stiffening, but it lasts only a moment before it reverts back to the same smile. Though this time, it’s followed by a small chuckle.
“Oh my, well, look what we have here,” she says casually, grinning while typing on the keyboard.
Drew gasps out loud gazing at the screen with his mouth wide open.
“Oh my God, what is it?” I panic, swallowing the large breath stuck in my throat. “You found something weird? Okay, listen… I never wanted to admit this, but when I was eight, I accidentally swallowed my goldfish. Mom warned me every night to clean the bowl, and I was lazy. The fish died, and when she came into my room, I panicked and swallowed it, blaming the cat.”
Drew and Susan stare at me oddly, my heart racing with fear and their silence not helping me calm down at all.
“Since you’re a doctor, I’m guessing you can see it, too?” Susan questions Drew.
Oh, Peaches… we meet again. I knew this day would come to haunt me in my adulthood. I’m carrying a half-human, half-goldfish. Hopefully, it’s a girl so it can at least get away with being a girl mermaid or something. I don’t even think there are boy mermaids, but hey, it is what it is. Love is love. If he wants to wear pearls then I’ll support him.
“Zoey.” Drew rests his hand on my arm, rubbing it slowly as his eyes glaze over with a jubilant grin spreading across his face.
I heave, loudly. “Twin goldfish?”
“Babe, no. Twin babies. You’re carrying twins.”
Susan points to the two sacs on the screen. I can barely make out the first one let alone the second one. Did Drew just say twins? Like two babies growing inside of me, swimming around with Peaches and having the time of their life in the two liters of water that’s now ready to kill me.