Maria
"Arghhh," I scread as the pain severed my insides. Solara held my hand by the sides, whispering comforting words that I barely listened to. Jada had left to get the healer. I couldn’t wait any longer.
"She’d soon get help. Just hang on," Solara said as she squeezed my palm.
"I can’t. It’s..." I shouted. The pain clawed my insides, causing to squirm over the bed. Every breath of mine was shallow, taking a lot of effort. My hands shook vigorously and sweat dampened my clothes.
Jada returned and knelt by my side, her hands were locked around mine.
"Where is the healer?" I winced as I forced the question out of my mouth.
"I sent soone to call her. She’d be here. Stay with , Maria." She whispered.
The fire in my belly made it difficult for to focus on her words. My body no longer felt like my own.
A sharp knock sounded at the door. Solara left my side and hurried over to the entrance. "You’re here." I heard her say, and relief washed over .
The woman who entered wasn’t young, but she wasn’t too old. Her hair had gray streaks, and I barely paid attention to any other detail.
She set her satchel on the bed and lowered herself to my side. Her cool hands brushed against my wrist, then pressed against my fevered temple. "Tell what happened." She said in a calm voice.
"She was fine earlier," Jada rushed to explain. "We talked, and she drank tea and afterwards, the vomiting and pain started."
The woman narrowed her eyes. "What tea?"
Solara quickly listed the herbs. "Mint, chamomile, cinnamon..."
"Cinnamon?"
"Yes," Solara affird with a hint of uncertainty in her tone.
The woman pressed her fingers to the pulse in my neck, then lowered her hand to my abdon. Her touch was firm, but still gentle.
She heaved a sigh. "Maria, when was your last cycle?"
The question startled to a great extent. My eyes that were fluttering shut flew open. "Why would that matter?"
"Because cinnamon is toxic to pregnant shewolves." She said flatly. "And your symptoms, violent vomiting, abdominal pains, weakness, they match what I’ve seen before. I need to check sothing."
I noticed Jada’s face beco pale. Solara lips parted as if to say sothing, but she later kept quiet.
I shook my head weakly, "No, no, you can’t an it,"
She t my eyes and repeated the sa thing. "Maria, I believe you may be pregnant."
The words hit harder than the pain tearing through . My stomach tightened, not just with nausea, but from the shock.
Pregnant? It couldn’t be. I hadn’t slept with any man except for...Triton. No. It wasn’t possible. The image of Triton flashed in my mind, his touch, the kiss, the night I had given myself to him without thinking. I held my belly.
"That’s the only possible reason." The woman added.
Jada’s hand flew to her mouth, muffling her gasp. Her wide eyes darted between and the physician. "Pregnant? Are you sure?"
"I’ll confirm with an examination," The physician said, pulling out a bundle of tools wrapped in a cloth. "But the cinnamon already proves a point. It provokes violent reactions in a carrying womb."
My ears rang as if hit with sothing heavy. I didn’t want to be pregnant, especially not for Triton. Hopefully, the examination ca out as negative.
Jada leaned close and whispered. "Maria, breathe. Don’t panic."
I tried to follow her words and steady myself.
The physician set a hand on my shoulder. "I need to examine you. It may hurt, but I have to do it."
I could only nod faintly. Jada helped shift , propping pillows behind . Solara who had been silent the entire while fetched water and cloth.
The woman pressed her hands against vital parts of my body, the traditional way of examining for pregnancy. She murmured observations under her breath. My body quivered under her touch, half from pain, half from fear of what she would confirm.
Finally, she stood up, her face tired, but not surprised. I swallowed hard, dreading what the results would be. "It is as I thought, you are with a child."
"What? It can’t be." I blurted out. Her words hung heavy like a curse.
Jada’s hold on my hand trembled. Solara darted her eyes around the room, unsure of where to look.
The physician’s gaze softened. "I would give you dicine to ease the pain, so that your unborn child stays safe."
I shook my head and sobbed. "I don’t want a child. I don’t want whatever that’s in my womb to be safe."
"Maria, your safety matters first before anything else," Jada said to .
My body ached. The thought of a child growing in was unbearable.
The physician brought out items from her bag. "I will prepare redies to ease the reaction, but cinnamon must never touch your lips again."
I gave a faint nod, though my mind was far from herbs and teas, or cinnamon.
I felt a hollow in my chest and tears pricked at the corner of my eyes. I allowed them to flow freely, soaking my dress.
"It’s okay Maria. We’d look for a solution." Solara said to .
Jada brushed the tears off my face with her palm. "You’re not alone in this. You’ve survived worse."
I wanted to believe them, wished I believed I was strong enough to contain this. But as I lay there clutching my stomach, I felt as though I was standing at the edge of a cliff.
"Give it to her to drink. It would ease the pain." The woman handed a bowl of watery mixture to Jada.
Jada gave it to and I forced myself to empty the contents.
"Please, don’t try to kill the baby with cinnamon. If you do that, it can end up killing you." The physician said, and proceeded to check my pulse.
She left after she saw that I was in a better state.
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