Chapter 2 – Confusion and Fear
The next morning, Amara awoke to the relentless buzz of her alarm, though she hadn't slept well. Her mind had raced through the night, tangled in questions with no answers. She felt hollow yet heavy, as if a thousand thoughts pressed against her chest all at once.
After a long, shaky shower, she dressed in loose clothes, her hands lingering over her stomach without realizing it. The life inside her seemed to pulse even more insistently now, a silent reminder that nothing she had known would ever remain the same.
She sat at her kitchen table, sipping bitter coffee, staring at her reflection in the window. Her reflection looked normal, unchanged, but inside, her world had shifted. How is this possible?
Her first instinct was to consult a doctor. She couldn't face this alone—not with her own understanding failing her. A quick search revealed a nearby women's health clinic with good reviews. She hesitated, fingers trembling over the phone. Finally, with a deep breath, she dialed.
"Good morning, Dr. Ellis' office," a cheerful receptionist answered. "How can I help you?"
"I… I need an appointment," Amara stammered. "It's… urgent."
After a few questions, she secured a slot for that afternoon. The day stretched endlessly before her, each hour heavy with dread. At work, she forced herself to act normal, responding to emails and attending meetings, but her mind wandered constantly. How could she explain what she was going through if anyone noticed? She couldn't tell Lena—not yet—and she certainly couldn't share it with her family.
The waiting room at the clinic was sterile and white, filled with the low hum of conversation and the shuffle of feet. Amara felt out of place, isolated. When the nurse called her name, she followed silently, heart pounding like a drum in her chest.
Dr. Ellis, a kind-faced woman in her forties, greeted her warmly. "What brings you in today?"
Amara hesitated. The words felt alien in her mouth. "I… I think I'm pregnant," she said softly.
Dr. Ellis raised an eyebrow but remained calm. "Have you confirmed it with a test?"
"Yes," Amara said, her voice cracking. "It's… positive."
The doctor's expression shifted to professional curiosity. "And have you… been sexually active?"
Amara swallowed hard. "No. I'm… I'm a virgin."
For a brief moment, the doctor paused, clearly surprised, though she quickly masked it with a clinical demeanor. "We'll run tests to confirm the pregnancy and determine viability," she said gently. "Sometimes lab errors happen, but if everything checks out, we'll explore why this occurred."
Amara nodded numbly. Each word Dr. Ellis spoke sounded both comforting and surreal. She was terrified, yes, but also oddly relieved. Someone believed her—or at least didn't dismiss her outright.
The blood tests, ultrasound, and consultations consumed the afternoon. Every beep, every scan, every number confirmed the impossible. She was pregnant. And there was no medical explanation she could comprehend.
By evening, Amara walked home through the city streets, lost in thought. Every passerby seemed oblivious to her internal turmoil. She felt isolated, trapped in a secret that defied logic and threatened to unravel her life.
Yet, even in the fear and confusion, a flicker of determination ignited. She didn't know how or why this had happened, but she realized that running or hiding would solve nothing. She would face this, one step at a time, even if the world doubted her, even if everyone else refused to understand.
For the first time since the test, Amara allowed herself a small, cautious thought: Maybe… this could be a miracle.
But the word "miracle" brought no comfort yet—only more questions. How could a virgin become pregnant? Was this science, magic, or something else entirely? And what would this mean for her life, her family, her future?
Amara stood at her apartment window again, watching the lights of the city shimmer in the gathering dusk. She didn't have answers. Not yet. But she had a resolve that no fear could erase.
She would find the truth.
And she would survive this.