Miscarriage
Bleary eyed after being roused from a sound sleep Lacey turns her head to peer at the alarm clock. The large red numbers tell her that it's eight o' clock in the morning. She vaguely remembers Danny waking her with a kiss goodbye on his way to work. It seems like it had just happened a minute ago, but had to have actually occurred at least an hour ago, sleep causing her to lose track of time.
Settling back down in the bed, she makes herself more comfortable, happy for a much needed day off from work. She usually doesn't remain in bed this late into the morning, rising early even on the weekends – much to Danny's chagrin – in preparation for the day ahead. The pregnancy, though, has increased her fatigue, causing her to sleep more than she did before.
Body relaxing, aided by the warmth of the bed and the smell of Danny on the sheets, her eyes drift shut and her mind begins to slip from consciousness, the lethargy taking over. Just as she approaches the pinnacle of being wakeless, mind prepared for its temporary hibernation, she feels a cramping in her lower stomach. The spasms wrap around her torso reaching her lower back as well. While not the most painful sensation she's felt, it's enough to pull her from slumber.
Sitting up in the bed, Lacey takes a deep breath, one hand lowering to rest on her abdomen while the other cradles her back. The cramping subsides slowly as the muscles release their contraction. This must have been what first woke her from sleep, her mind too clouded at the time to realize. Taking another breath to calm her nerves, she leaves the bed, making her way to the bathroom. She plans to take a warm shower to help in easing the pain. Worry begins to creep into her mind, but she does her best to prevent the panic by thinking back to the words of her OB/GYN. Dr. Cipriano had told her that cramping was normal, and depending on its level of severity, not necessarily a problematic sign. Chanting the sentence in her mind, she finds little comfort.
Another, more painful, wave of spasms stops her in her tracks. Now truly concerned, Lacey detours from her path to the bathroom, coming to the nightstand that houses the cordless phone. She dials the number from memory, calling the doctor's office and telling the secretary of her need for an immediate appointment. Understanding Lacey's situation, the woman fits her into the schedule, prefacing that the doctor won't have much time to see her; her appointment book being filled for the day. After voicing her understanding, Lacey hangs up the phone and rushes to the bathroom to wash up before dressing.
Upon entering the room, she briskly brushes her teeth before hastily running a comb through her hair, pulling the locks back into a messy ponytail. Feeling the need to relieve herself, she moves to the toilet bowl, pulling down her underwear before taking a seat. That's when she notices the blood. There isn't much, but enough to stain the inner lining of cloth. It causes an increase in her panic, her body beginning to tremble in her terror.
"No, no, no please no," she whimpers, her vision blurring. Her arms cross over her stomach as she leans forward, the tears falling down her face. She remains like that a moment, sobs racking her body before sniffling in an attempt to stop her cries. Forcibly pulling herself together, she stands righting her clothes as she again takes possession of the phone. She still has to see the doctor even if there's nothing the woman can do. In no condition to drive, she calls Danny, praying that he has a free moment to answer.
"Hey, Lace," his voice comes through on the line, cheerful and blissfully unaware of the pain to come ahead.
Hearing it causes her to whimper, sobs again coursing through her body as the tears return at full force.
Alarmed he asks, "Lacey what's wrong? Are you okay?" He stands from his desk, already gathering his things to leave. He has a meeting in twenty minutes, but that'll have to be postponed, his fiancée more important that any business dealing.
"Danny," Lacey manages to say through her erratic breathing. "The baby…" her words trail off, the sound of her sobs once again taking over the line.
"I'm coming home now. Just wait for me. I'll be there in a minute." He wants to stay on the phone with her, but hangs up instead; hearing her cry while driving would not result in his safe journey home. Stopping by the receptionist on his way out of the building, he has her relay the message that he has left for the day due to a family emergency.
Hearing Danny's parting statement, Lacey too hangs up the phone. This time it takes her longer to contain her emotions as she changes from her nightgown into a sweater and jeans for the appointment with Dr. Cipriano; her hands and body tremble as she struggles to fit the clothing over her form. Dressed, she bypasses the mirror, not needing to confirm that she looks a mess, eyes red and swollen with tear tracks on her face and mucus running from her nose. Finding a tissue, she cleans up the best she can, before gathering her things to meet Danny outside of their apartment.
Driving on the street of their building, Danny is surprised to see Lacey standing on the sidewalk, bag in hand and face tipped forward. He pulls over in front of her, readying to leave the vehicle when she suddenly looks up and walks toward the car. She climbs in without hesitation, sniffling once as she puts on her seatbelt. Her face is blank, but it's clear she's been crying.
Placing his hand on her thigh, Danny turns toward her. "Are you okay?" Her mask cracks briefly, her eyes swelling up as a grimace comes over her face a keening noise emitted from the back of her throat.
Schooling her face back into its blank expression, Lacey clamps her mouth shut, shaking her head. "Don't ask me that," she says eventually, eyes closing as she leans back against the seat, arms resting along her abdomen. "I have an appointment with the doctor."