Unforeseen Revelations: Embracing the Unknown Path

"You're entering the eighth week," Lucinda continues, unaware of my shocked expression still processing the words "you're pregnant." "The fetus is already 6 mm and well-positioned in your uterus. From what I can see, your uterus, fallopian tubes, intrauterine structures, and the fetus are healthy."

Pregnant, I was pregnant. She finishes the examination and then touches my leg, bringing my attention back. I get up and head to where I left my clothes. I'm still in a daze because I came to get a copper IUD, and I'm leaving pregnant.

"Dália, I will request a blood type test, serology tests for rubella, HIV, toxoplasmosis, hepatitis B and C, and cytomegalovirus. Also, urine and feces tests," Lucinda continues, now sitting at her desk and making necessary notes. She stops writing and looks at me, saying, "How are the symptoms?"

"Six," I mumble, thoughtful, sitting in the chair.

"Six... Six what, Dália?" the doctor asks, looking at me without understanding.

"I took six tests, and they were all negative. How can I be pregnant?" I question, looking at my belly.

"Well, I suppose you had unprotected sex and weren't using any contraceptive method. Or you fell within the minimum percentage predicted..." Lucinda replies, with a hint of irony in her voice. "Do you at least know who the father is this time?"

"What? What did you say?" I ask, shocked, looking at Lucinda. How dare she ask something like that?

"I asked about your morning sickness... If you're having less nausea this time," Lucinda says, looking at me. "Dália, are you okay?"

"I'm fine..." I reply, running my hand over my face. "I'm nauseous, but I still don't know if it's the same or worse... I feel sleepy, tired..."

"Alright. We'll monitor this pregnancy more carefully. Your appointments will be more frequent to track the development of your baby, okay?" my gynecologist informs me. She hands me the images of my examination and then looks at me. "That's it for now. Any questions?"

"No... Thank you," I respond, putting away the examination and quickly getting up.

I practically run out of the clinic. My breathing is heavy, my hands are trembling, and my stomach feels queasy. I drive through the streets without any sense of direction, as the conversation I had with Carlos last night about it not being the right time, and the complications I had during Juan's pregnancy and after his birth, keeps replaying in my mind. Will I go through all that suffering again? I park the car and walk along the sidewalk until I enter the office and find my workmates, where I ended up coming automatically. I walk among them, and they stare at me, probably thinking I look like a crazy person or something. Rúbia then turns to me, arching her eyebrows, and asks:

"Are you okay?"

"I'm pregnant," I blurt out, sitting at my desk. I turn on the computer and continue typing, oblivious to the shocked looks of everyone.

"Wait, what??? Did you say pregnant?" Rúbia asks, practically jumping onto my desk. Not just her, but all the others surround me, waiting for answers.

"Yes, that's what happens when two people who have a plan not to get pregnant for the next three years, argue, each one moves to a different place... the woman no longer sees the point in using the injection but ends up getting back with her husband and having crazy sex. That's what happens!" I vent, typing forcefully with each word spoken. I take a deep breath, run my hand through my hair, and then look at the girls with their wide-eyed stares. "What's wrong?"

"Dália, did you say you're pregnant?" Suarez asks behind me.

"Yes, I found out today," I say, apprehensive, looking at my boss.

"Congratulations!" he says with a huge smile on his face. "Your husband must be ecstatic."

"He doesn't know yet," I explain.

"How come? You still haven't told him, why?" my boss asks, flustered.

"Because I left the doctor's office and came straight to work," I reply with a slight smile on my face.

"No, ma'am," my boss says, pulling my chair. "Go home and surprise him. I'm sure he'll be very happy with the news. Besides, he should be the first to know."

"But..." I start, being practically lifted from my seat by my boss's arms. He leads me out of the real estate agency. "Suarez."

"Shhhh!" Suarez says, putting his fingers on my lips. "Thank me later."

He closes the door practically in my face, leaving me on the street. I return to my car and drive to Juan's daycare, picking him up early. I put him in his car seat and then get in my place.

"Hermana," Juan says from his seat.

"Yes, I know... And by the looks of it, you already knew too, didn't you?" I ask, receiving a huge smile from my son. "Now let's see what Papi thinks of this."

***
I arrive home and start thinking about what kind of surprise I could prepare for Carlos. Balloons, maybe? No, it would be too cheesy. A personalized shirt would be impossible. A countdown sign, not to mention. Not that I hadn't thought of something elaborate, but that was for three years from now, with Juan wearing the "Promoted to Big Brother" shirt, balloons, signs, and everything else, anything to surpass our first time. I pick up the examination and go to the bedroom, where I look for one of the decorative envelopes that I send to people on their birthdays. I put the images inside and decide that I'll deliver them at dinner. I stare at the envelope for a while and give up. I take the images out because I already assume it's a ridiculous idea. I need to come up with something better. I grab the images and go back to the living room. I walk back and forth with them in hand when I hear the front door open, which is strange because my husband would undoubtedly be at work at this time. I walk to our hall and come face to face with him, who also looks surprised by my presence.

"Dália, what are you doing here?" my husband asks, hanging his keys in their place.

"I could ask you the same thing," I say, standing in front of him. "What are you doing here at this hour?"

"I came home to prepare a delicious dinner for us and to tell you some news," Carlos says, hands on his hips.

"I came for the same reason," I reveal.

We stare at each other for long moments. We knew that as soon as we opened our mouths, everything would change for us:

"I'm pregnant."
"I'm going back to Portugal."