On A Thread

Chapter 15

In a situation like this, it didn’t matter what you said, the person feels grief until they don’t.
it didn’t just go away.

Anna cupped Brie’s face, “it gets better, I mean that’s why you’re here right?” she cracked a smile, “you’ve been doing great so far and soon it’ll all get better”

Brie wasn’t nearly convinced that it could get better, but false hope is better than none.

She had been taking her medications religiously, even the foul tasting supplements, never missed a check up date and ate healthy. She was doing all she could to get a better cervix if that even made any sense.

Maybe, just maybe she would be capable of carrying her child.

Brie cracked a small smile.

Anna replied with a beam. She clapped, “alright.” she bounced off her chair, “let’s take a look at you then,”

Brie nodded.

The check ups had become more depressing because somehow she kept on hoping there was a baby even when there was no sex.

She laid there on the examination table, her hands squeezing desperately on her shirt, the flimsy cloth draped over her bare legs didn’t do much to ease the sudden shiver she was feeling.

She winced a bit as soon as the cold tool touched her thighs, she prepared her mind for the tiny sting that followed through.

Her heart was racing with a swirl of different emotions that made her sick to her stomach, a mix of anxiety and the determination to get over with the check up and just go home, wherever that was.

Anna pulled her thighs further apart and began the examination.

After the internal examination with those scary looking tools that could gouge out a human’s eye, it was time for the stress free one, the ultrasound. Brie was studying Anna’s expression in case there was anything worrisome but that in itself was useless. Her eyes kept pin ponging from Anna’s poker face to the monitor, she could barely make out anything from the screen and just made comprehensive sounds each time Anna described an organ.

All she wanted to hear was that there was improvement.

Anna was a true professional with a true calling.

You couldn’t read her face, be it good or bad news.

“I’ve been taking the medications and eating healthy.” Brie rushed out the words unable to handle the anxiety.

“I hope it’s stronger now.?” she sighed.

Anna smiled, “seems like all that work is paying off.” she said, standing up straight.

Brie watched her expression from above the cap of her knees.

She grimaced, “so no sign of a big baby?”

Anna chuckled, “not until you have intercourse or implant,” she paused and cast Brie a knowing look, “which doesn’t seem to be so.”

Brie straightened her shirt and hopped down from the table, she reached for her pants.

“Did you miss Biology class a lot in high school?”

The question stunned Brie for a moment. She blinked. “wasn’t exactly my best but I skipped quite a few.” she smiled with guilt. "Why?"

Anna stripped off her white coat “I’m guessing the reproductive class was one of the topics you skipped?”

Brie laughed, “you are unbelievable.” she was done wearing her pants and was sitting on the chair, “besides, miracles happen.”

Anna nodded an Amen to that.

The telephone rang and Brie watched her sister in law take the call, something about paging another doctor and some other things she couldn't comprehend.

Brie just listened in silence, playing with the little fidget spinner on her desk.

All her anxiety was almost gone when Anna confirmed that everything was fine.

It was always fine except for the moment she needed everything to be fine.

How ironic!

Anna gave her an 'it’s - under control' smile and she nodded in reply.

“a bit of work stress.” Anna said apologetically.

‘completely unavoidable.” she shrugged.
Then began again,

“what happened the other day at the vineyard? You left abruptly, not like you were there with any of us.” she half - shrugged the last sentence.

Anna averted her gaze from Brie’s, “I had an emergency.” she said precisely.

“you looked stressed Anna. C’mon, you love red wine.”

Anna laughed. “I had plans to drink till I was out, haven’t had red wine in forever.”
“exactly!” Brie agreed.

Anna pushed her laptop aside when Brie’s worry didn’t fade.

“i promise you, it was work emergency.” her brows knitted together, “it was rude of me to leave like that and I really am sorry sweetie.”

Brie pursed her lips like a sulking baby,

“I’m not upset Anna. I just get a feeling that maybe it’s not work. You handle work stress well and that night you were more disoriented.” she said and recoiled, wondering if she was intruding too much,

“of course work could get tougher, especially your field.”

Anna nodded, “it sure got tougher.”

It wasn’t her place to project a problem that isn’t there but Brie was still not satisfied with Anna’s answer. They were about the same age with Anna two years older and they’d gotten close with a beautiful bond and it was enough to suspect that maybe there was more.