“That’s right,” I reply and get up from the chair. “And please, call me Haisley.”
Holly sets her clipboard on the counter and wheels a compact machine closer to the examination area. While she’s getting the equipment ready, Soph steps forward, her arms already opening for me. I sink into her hug.
“I’m here for anything you need,” she whispers.
A smile trembles on my lips as I cling to her. Soph’s presence soothes the storm full of emotions inside me, though my chest still feels tight with all the nerves.
Pulling back, I swipe my damp cheeks with my shirt sleeve and glance at Holly. “What happens now?”
“We’ll ensure your baby is doing well and everything looks normal. Can you estimate how many weeks it’s been since the conception?”
My cheeks feeling warmer, I tell her, “It happened the weekend before Halloween.”
“I’ll confirm it later, but that was around ten weeks ago if my math is correct. In that case, we can do an abdominalultrasound, if you prefer that one instead of transvaginal,” she explains as she arranges her equipment and gestures toward the exam table.
“Let’s try an abdominal one first.”
Holly nods. “Whenever you’re ready. Take your time.”
Soph helps me to the table, her hand never leaving mine. I lie back, the paper crinkling under me, and focus on the warmth of my best friend’s presence instead of the nerves twisting in my stomach.
Holly smiles reassuringly as she puts on a pair of rubber gloves. “If you lift your top a little and lower the waistband of your pants, we’ll get started.”
I do as she says, cool air hitting my skin as I expose my belly. A shiver of anticipation runs through me, and my eyes dart to Soph. She reaches out, her touch grounding me.
“This gel will feel a little cold against your skin,” Holly warns, holding up the bottle. “But it helps me to do the examination.”
Nodding, I turn to see the screen on my right. Soph gently squeezes my hand as Holly places the wand against my skin. The room fills with the soft hum of the machine, and I hold my breath as I stare at the blur of gray and white on the monitor.
Holly adjusts the wand with a slight, practiced movement. My breath falters in my throat as a recognizable silhouette fills the screen. I cover my mouth, totally stunned.
“There we go,” Holly murmurs, angling the monitor better for us to see. “That’s your baby.”
Soph gasps and I can’t take my eyes off the most beautiful sight in the world.
“It’s so small,” I barely get out.
“Oh my god, Haisley…that’s your baby,” Soph whispers, her voice trembling with awe.
My chest tightens more, this time with amazement and overflowing love, as I stare at the tiny little human I have created. It all feels surreal—my world has both expanded yet narrowed to this undeniable proof of new life inside me.
“Everything’s measuring as it should be at this point. The little one also has a strong heartbeat by the looks of it,” Holly says before continuing. “But I don’t see your IUD anywhere.”
“Wait, what?!” I whisper-shout as her words register in the back of my mind. “Where did it go?”
Holly moves the wand, double-checking the situation. “I don’t know what to tell you…other than it’s no longer there. Sometimes, IUDs can fall out during heavy periods, and women don’t even notice. It’s rare, but you’re not the first patient to have this issue.”
“Holy shit,” Soph’s whisper fills the otherwise quiet room.
Unable to speak past another lump in my throat, I reach for Soph’s hand again, squeezing it like it’s my lifeline.
“What’s next?” My best friend asks Holly on my behalf.
“We’ll go ahead and schedule Haisley’s follow-up appointments today. In the meantime, she’ll have time to consider her options. But for now, everything looks fine and how it should be.”
Hearing those words makes all the uncertainty disappear. “Thank you, Holly.”
She hands me a paper towel and says goodbye. Once the door closes, I turn to Soph, my lips trembling. Her eyes are wide and tearful, yet her smile is radiant.
