[Patrick]
The moment I stepped onto the porch with the plastic bag of aspirin gripped in my hand, I knew something was off. Call it my psychic powers, but I felt a shift in the atmosphere.
A not very good shift.
I grabbed the aspirin tightly and bounded up the stairs, half expecting to find Angela sprawled on the bed squirming again. I felt cold sweat dripping down my back and getting absorbed by my shirt as my heart hammered away in my chest. When I stepped in, I saw, to my relief, Angela sitting on the edge of the messy bed.
She was alright. That was all it mattered to me then. I threw down the aspirin and grabbed her in a tight hug, running my shaking fingers through her wild blond curls. Though I felt her arms wrap around me in a fierce embrace, I knew something was wrong, and I had to ask.
"Angie, is everything okay?" I carefully asked, keeping my promise that I made a few years ago not to intrude into her thoughts, although I very well could.
It was then I noticed her face. How tired she looked, her blue eyes losing their usual bright sparkle and the skin around her cheekbones sagging slightly. It was only a few weeks after our marriage! What in the world happened? Her blue eyes were filled with a curious mixture of anxiety, excitement, and most of all, fear.
She swallowed visibly, looking away before meeting my eyes again. I was really scared now. Why is she behaving like that?
Then it came. The answer I've been asking so urgently for. It was soft, coming out as a quiet breath, so soft I thought I'd imagined it. The gentle puff of breath from her mouth hit me in the face like a 20-tonne weight. My head spun as sparkles appeared at the corner of my eyes. I took an involuntary step backwards, as if staggering from the impact.
"I'm pregnant, Patrick."
She repeated it, a little louder this time. That was the confirmation I needed. I gulped, my vision clearing of weird dancing spots as I fixed my gaze on her beautiful face.
This is a mistake, a small voice in my head whispered. You're not ready to be father! What were you thinking, you jerk?! Now you got Angela pregnant. What. Have. You. Done.