The REASON Series - the Complete Collection by Zoey Derrick Read Free Book Online

shareholder of this hospital."
    My jaw clenches. Oh. But my pride won’t let my anger fade so easily. "I'm sorry," I say, looking stonily into his eyes.  
    "You know, for being as small as you are, you put up one hell of a fight." He laughs a little. "Come on." He tugs at my hand, pulling me toward the nurse.  

    Twenty minutes later, I'm tucked into a room and getting into an open-back hospital gown. The cold material touching me makes me realize that I’m super sensitive, a live-wire. It reminds me of getting sick, when my skin is achy from catching a cold.  
    I lie back against the cold mattress and pull the blankets up to my armpits as Mikah enters. Suddenly I’m exhausted. My eyes feel like sandbags. Mikah takes a seat in the chair next to the bed, and I slowly close my eyes.  

    I wake up a few minutes later to the sound of Mikah’s voice. He’s talking to someone. "She fainted last night after eating a meal. Something I'm guessing she hasn't done in some time."
    "Why not?" A female voice. "On purpose?"
    "No, no. Nothing like that."
    "Okay. Well, we will do some blood work. And I recommend an ultrasound. You know this isn’t the first time she's been in here, right?"  
    Oh, no. I stir in the bed and open my eyes.  
    "Hi, Vivienne. I'm Dr. Alston." She extends her hand to me.  
    I try to sit up, but I'm weak with exhaustion. Suddenly there’s a whirring noise and the top half of the bed starts to rise.
    "Thanks," I mutter in Mikah's direction.  
    Then I notice a tugging underneath my gown. I look down at the wires coming out at the neckline. My eyes follow them towards the vitals monitor to my left. Turning my head back towards the doctor I notice the clip on my finger.
    I extend my hand to Dr. Alston. "We've met before," I say, hoping Mikah doesn’t ask too many questions.
    "Pleasure to see you again. Mikah tells me you fainted yesterday after eating?" I nod. "Can you describe for me how you felt right before?"
    "I was irritated,” I said, darting a glance at Mikah. “Then I stood, the room spun and I realized that I was falling. The next thing I remember was waking up on the floor."  
    "Any headache after you fainted?" I shake my head. "Have you been dizzy since then?" I shake my head. "What about vomiting?"
    "Twice."  
    "When?" She's looking from me to Mikah and I don't understand why.  
    "Once this morning, as soon as I woke up. Then again about an hour ago." I don’t feel the need to add that a nightmare about that abusive asshole of an ex-boyfriend was the reason for my vomiting.
    "I spun her around this morning, before I found out she was pregnant, and she vomited into a trashcan in the skyway downtown."
    The doctor just nods and writes something else in her notepad.  
    "I throw up nearly every morning," I add.  
    "Do you remember about how far along you are?" I shake my head. I’ve tried to forget everything related to the last time I was here. "Okay, here's what we’re going to do. I want to draw some blood and start an IV." My stomach churns at the thought of not one but two needles. "We need to get some fluids and some vitamins in you. Okay?"
    I shake my head. "I don't like needles."  
    "I understand, but it is the fastest, best way to get you rehydrated. I can tell from the bluish veins in your arm that you're very dehydrated. You're also very malnourished. We need to check your blood sugar and run a few other tests. I also want to have an ultrasound done. This way we can take a good look at what stage in the pregnancy you are.” She gestures to my stomach. “Can I take a look first?"
    "Does he have to stay?" I ask, nodding in Mikah’s direction. Some things are better done in private.  
    "I just want to do an external examination, but if you want him to leave..." She looks pointedly at Mikah.
    "Vivienne, if it's okay, I'd like to stay." His hand lightly strokes the back of mine. I flinch at the unexpected contact. I look at Dr. Alston.  
    "Mikah, why don't you give us a few