When I regained consciousness, I reached for my cheek. It was still sore to the touch. I felt around the bed that I was on. It was soft enough to be considered a bed, but hard because every time I moved it would make an annoying crinkling sound. With the constant beeping and chilling atmosphere, I knew exactly were I was even though I had yet to open my eyes. I hated hospitals. I always tried to avoid them, but I knew I'd be here sooner or later. I moved to sit up when a pinching sensation on my arm and a sharp pain in my head made me stop.

"You shouldn't move." My eyes shot open.

"Take it easy. I didn't mean to scare you," a nurse said halting my movements. I looked down at my arm to see a needle sticking out of it. My eyes widened.

"It's just an IV. You desperately need it." I didn't say anything. She gently pushed me back down against the bed and situated my arms so that they were back at my sides.

"I don't want to be here," my voice came out strained.

"I understand, but you passed out at work and hit your head. The man that brought you here was frantic and worried for you. He said he wasn't family so he wasn't allowed back, but he has been in the waiting room for hours now."

"Is his name Earl?" I asked.

"Yea, actually it is. Would you like to see him?"

I shook my head no. "Not right now." I didn't want him to see me like this.

"Okay, well, I'll send the doctor in and she can go over the results of your tests. Just relax and I'll be back in a few."

When I didn't respond, she gave me a small smile and retreated towards the door. She stopped for a second on her way out. "Happy Birthday." Then she left. I didn't dwell on her words. I knew it was my birthday, but it doesn't even matter now. I'm stuck in this damn hospital. It was taking forever for the doctor to arrive, so I kept dozing off. I needed to stay awake or else I probably won't get to see the doctor until I wake up again. The faster I met with them, the faster I could be discharged.

There was a knock at the door before it was pushed open.

"Hello Asha. I'm Dr. Stevens. How are you feeling?" I looked up as she walked over to the bed. I was surprised to see that she was a black woman, maybe in her mid 40s. I haven't been around many doctors but she seemed young. When I pictured a doctor, I saw an older white man with grey hair and a receded hairline.

"I'm fine," I mumbled. She looked over the clipboard in her hand. She also checked the monitors and the IV drip in my arm.

"Do you mind if I sit you up?"

I shook my head no. She pushed a button and the upper half of my body rose. She stopped it before I was almost completely upright. The nurse walked in and handed me a cup of water. This was just what I needed. I muttered a thank you and downed the small cup in one gulp. I looked down as Dr. Stevens took my arm in her hand and took my blood pressure.

"I did some standard blood work while you were unconscious, and besides being severely malnourished and underweight, the tests show that you are pregnant, which could have been the reason why you fainted. But, there are so many factors to account for, so really, anything could have caused you to pass out-"

"Wait, what?" I could feel my heart rate spike.

"Pregnant? No you're wrong. My period is too irregular. I haven't had one in like three months. You're wrong. You're lying."

"I can't be pregnant. That's impossible," I stated in disbelief.

"Asha, nothing's impossible. It is usually very unlikely, but it can happen. I mean, your body is shot. Your organs are working too hard to try and sustain the little nutrition you have. We can do another test, which will come back positive. And, even then, it is unlikely that you will carry to full term. Your body cannot sustain a parasite, which is essentially what a baby is."

"Well then take it out. You say my body is not in the right condition to carry a child, then take it out. I don't want it."

"Asha, I am not an Obstetrician nor a gynecologist, so I cannot perform operations like that. Let's just do another test first and go from there," Dr. Stevens said.

I nodded my head.

I peed in a cup and she drew more blood. It took a few hours to get my results, but when she came back, she showed me the chart and explained everything on it.

"We do not currently have an ultrasound available, but it is obvious that you are in the very early stages. I can refer you to a clinic that can explain everything much better then I can."

I was speechless. I couldn't comprehend how this could happen. Yes, I had unprotected sex with Dashawn, but my period is irregular. Sometimes it comes but most times it doesn't. I was careless and now I'm stuck in another fucked up situation. This is the last thing I need right now.

"Meanwhile, you need nutrition. You are not going to like this, but I need to keep you here under surveillance for a couple of weeks at most. You are too weak, and it would be negligent of me to discharge you in such a state," Dr. Stevens continued.

"No, I don't want to be here," I said wiping at my tears. I winced when my knuckles grazed the bruised side of my face. Dr. Stevens told me that nothing was fractured or broken and that it would take some time for the pain and swelling to go away.

"I'm sorry to hear that, but I cannot let you go like this."

I buried my face into my knees and let out all of my emotions. Dr. Stevens tried to comfort me, but I only yelled at her and told her to get out.

Hours went by. I didn't have my phone or anything, it was all still back at the diner in my locker. They asked if I wanted to call anyone, but I said no. I did tell the nurse to send Earl home and tell him that I was fine. He didn't need to be here. His wife would be worried and he still had a business to run.

For more hours, all I did was sleep. All the fluids and drugs they constantly pumped in me had me drowsy.

.....

It was early the next day and the nurse brought me some hospital food. If I could barely eat regular food, what made them think I could eat this shit.

"You need to eat," she said.

"I know, but I can't stomach it. Do you have some bread at least."

"I can go find some, but I have a question." I nodded letting her know that she could continue. "Would you be open to speaking to a nutritionist?"

I smacked my teeth. "Y'all just adding on to the long list of shit I can't pay for. My hospital bill is gonna be through the roof as it is," I stated in frustration. They already got me here longer than I want to be, now they adding on more shit.

"Asha, we can talk about your options and we can talk about your insurance, which we still don't have yet."

"That's because I don't know any of it."

"Well, maybe we should call your parents," the nurse sat down at the foot of the bed.

"No! I'm an adult now, and she don't need to know shit. I can make my own decisions because she will not make them for me. My mom couldn't care less about me or the fact that I'm in the hospital."

"Hey, okay okay. I didn't mean to upset you," the nurse said reaching for my leg. She caressed it in a loving manner and I took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. We can talk about other options. Is there someone you want to help you come up with a plan when we go over your options? Maybe, the older gentleman that brought you to the hospital? I know he would be eager to see you, and it would be good for you to see a familiar face."

I thought on her words and agreed.

The nurse left and came back with some bread rolls. They were good and I could stomach them. I ate only two, and a little bit of fruit, but at least it was something. She told me that she called the number Earl gave the hospital when I was admitted. I made a mental note to figure out what I was gonna do about school. Spring break is officially over and school starts back on Monday. I can't miss any days this close to the end.

Earl and his wife came by. We all talked for a long time. We also went over my options for how I was going to pay my medical bill since I wasn't sure of my insurance. I was told that I could get a loan, set up a payment plan, or sign up for aid. It's all about negotiation. It's common for patients to not have the resources to pay, so there are certain loopholes. Many people don't know about their options because they don't ask. And hospitals are not just gonna flat out and tell you, "hey, if you play your cards right there's a possibility that you won't have to pay your medical bills."

Earl and his wife talked amongst themselves for a while. When they came back into the room, they didn't mention the medical expenses again.