Chapter Ten

"This can't be!" cried Joy in bitterness.

Dr. Reyes watched in shock and confusion as her patient drenched her hospital gown with enormous tears of pain. She knew immediately that there was more to the story than Vida and Ivy let out. In her heart she somehow felt Joy's pain. As Joy sobbed painfully, Dr. Reyes sat closer to her and pulled her to herself. Sometimes she did this for the patients who felt their lives were hanging on a thread. Somehow hugs were effective in calming most of them down, and Joy was not an exceptional. She didn't soothe her with words but her warm heart was like a glimpse of an oasis in the desert.

After sometime Joy recollected herself and dried her tears. She didn't want to get too attached to the doctors kindness. However she felt she could tell her the truth about the attempted suicide as well as the murder.

Dr. Reyes became utterly dumbfounded as Joy narrated her ordeal. She felt pitiful after listening to her.

Now she understood why such a pretty and brilliant girl wanted to die. Life had treated her badly and she was carrying the evidence of violation, the baby. Nine months was such a long time for an unwanted child to be carried. Every day of those nine months would be full of rage, anger and bitterness all mixed together forming a terrible trio.

However she still advised her to keep the baby no matter what comes because it was innocent. It had no blemishes.

"But then doctor, who will care for the baby?" Joy asked in pure resignation.

"You will cross the bridge when you get there. For now just focus on the two of you. Everything will be fine, you will see." The doctor gave her a reassuring smile.

Joy didn't utter any other word. She slowly slid back into the sheets and closed her eyes as the doctor covered her up and made sure she was comfortable enough then she exited the room to go and check her other patients. In her mind she couldn't get Joy's story out. She had prayed to God for a baby but her prayers were yet to be answered. She wondered if God was fair at all. How could he give a baby to someone didn't ask for it and forget about her?

Joy lay there deep in thought. How could she share her predicament with her parents? Her mother will be heartbroken. If only she had stayed and not competed for that stupid pageant she would be preparing for her exam right now. Just one more semester and she would have been done with school. However now things looked bleaked she wasn't sure she would make it past her current situation.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her door.

"Joy, someone is here to see you," Dr. Reyes peered from the door before opening it wide to reveal who the visitor was.

Joy froze almost falling off the hospital bed.

"Mum!" she found her voice which came as a whisper.

She felt humiliated and embarrassed at the state she was in. She was not prepared for this encounter this soon. She had not planned how best she could break the news to her and here she was already. That only meant one thing, she already knows.

"What happened to you child?" her mother asked

Still rooted on where she was, she began to scan the room. Several machines surrounded her daughter. Equipments she didn't even understand stared back at her strangely. Her eyes went back to her daughter. She looked like a shadow of herself, more like a ghost. She had lost a lot of weight. Her vivacity was gone, now she was replaced by a terrible sight.

"What happened to you child?" she asked again.

Joy was lost for words as the room suddenly felt cold and suffocating. She looked away from her mother as her face turned pale.

All this while the doctor's eyes were fixed on Joy. She knew it was a bad idea telling the woman about her daughter's condition at this stage. But Vida and Ivy felt it was necessary and even without her permission, they had made the call.

She felt pity for Joy. She had been caught unawares. She needed to do something for this girl. Joy had shown signs of recovery but after this confrontation she knew she could sink back to her previous state. She was extremely right as the machines suddenly started beeping furiously. In panic, she frantically ran out of the room to the hall to call for help. She then directed a nurse to take Joy's mother to her office as they stabilized Joy.

Half an hour later she made her way to the office where Joy's mother was pacing restlessly. She turned to her with fear written all over her face. By the look of things, she had been crying. Her eyes were bloodshot.

"How is my daughter doctor?" she asked.

"Have a seat please," the doctor told her ushering her to a seat.

She rounded her table and sat on her own swivel chair. Joy's mother sat down waiting in anticipation to know her daughter's state.

"My name is Dr. Reyes. What is your name?" the doctor asked for formalities.

"Stella,...Stella Wilson," she replied.

"Okay Stella. I want you to calm down and relax because what I am about to tell you requires calmness right now okay?" Dr. Reyes told her.

Stella just noded with curiosity.

Dr. Reyes stood up, went to the fridge in the office and poured a glass of water from a bottle. She brought it to the table and handed it to Stella, "Here, you might need this to calm you down."

Stella took the water silently.

"Now we can talk about your daughter," the doctor said.