Life has a habit of taking unexpected turns.
The sound of ceramic shattering against the tile floor jolted Kyle from sleep. Eyes snapping open to the sight of Jessi’s empty side of the bed, he instinctually bolted up, sprinting to the kitchen.
“Jessi!” His heart plummeted at the sight of her, face flushed and knuckles white as she gripped the counter, legs just barely able to support her. Careful to avoid the jagged pieces of broken plate and the toasted bagel that was now cream cheese-side down on the tile, he hurried to her side, wrapping an arm around her as he helped her walk to the dining table.
“I’m fine,” she tried to insist as she sat down, voice coming out in a slight mutter, “Just got a bit dizzy.”
Looking her over, Kyle quickly deduced she hadn’t injured herself in the dropping of her breakfast, though there was cream cheese smeared on her pant leg. With a gentle lift of her chin, he looked into her eyes, attempting to gauge her lucidity.
“Did you take your medication last night?” he asked as he hesitantly left her side, needing to retrieve something from the living room.
“Yeah,” Jessi nodded, a single hand resting on her swollen belly. The little one seemed unphased by the happenings around them, continuing with their usual morning stretches.
Returning to the kitchen, Kyle held the blood pressure cuff in his hands. As he wrapped the cold nylon around her left arm, Jessi found herself turning away. Despite what some people said about women’s bodies being made to have babies, it was abundantly clear by now that hers simply wasn’t. Blood pressure fluctuations were just one of her complications, her body just not knowing what to do with the increased hormone levels and the presence of the unfamiliar being growing inside her. Having just passed the twenty-four week mark, she’d already seen enough doctors and had enough tests run to make up for the sixteen years of blank medical history.
“Blood pressure’s normal,” Kyle told her as the cuff began to release its grip.
Jessi sighed. “Iron levels probably went down again.”
“I thought you just had a blood test?” he asked as he went to put the cuff back.
“Haven’t got the results back yet.”
Sighing himself at his entrance, Kyle got to work cleaning the mess on the floor. “Maybe you should call in today.”
Another sigh leaving her lips, Jessi shook her head. “I can’t do that.”
“You boss will understand.”
“No, I don’t want to miss work again.” This was all so frustrating. She loved her job, loved creating the security programs IT heads and CEOs alike went out of their way to request her for, and loved the feeling of doing something important. “The deadline’s coming up, beta tests still need to be run-”
“Jessi…” He tried not to sigh again as he threw out the broken plate and uneaten bagel. Part of him wished she wasn’t so stubborn, but the rest of him understood the predicament. Freelance humanitarian work didn’t bring in the same income, and if they wanted their child to have the experience and memories of playing in a backyard and running through the halls of their childhood home, they really needed the savings. Plus, he knew the toll this pregnancy was taking on her, how she struggled with limitations on a good day, and how important it was for her to maintain her sense of self. None of it calmed his desire to take care of her, but it at least helped him navigate these situations.
