CHAPTER THREE: TELL ME YOUR STORY
my life partner. Words could not describe how excited I was! We drove for
hours on end! Pit stops were reserved for bathroom breaks, nutrition breaks
and of course a little shopping to feed my addiction of finding that “Perfect
New Thing”. Several states passed in our rear view mirror and I started to feel
a sense of sickness coming from within me. “Great”, I thought, “I have food
poisoning”. A few more miles pass and I know, we need to pull over! I run into
the nearest pharmacy to grab some Gravol. As I stare at the package I have
this idea of what could be happening to me pop into my mind. Pregnancy.
“You’re knocked up”, my inner voice states as plain as day. I run around the
corner and grab a pregnancy test. As I race back to the car, paper bag stashed
under my arm, I request a quick bathroom break at the McDonalds across
the way. As we pull into the parking lot of the restaurant, my mind is racing.
Diapers, bottles, no sleep, soothers, laundry, so much laundry.
Was I ready for this? Were we ready?
I step out of the car, into the restaurant, and start towards the bathroom. I
could feel eyes watching me as I made my way to the bathroom. “Do these
people know something I don’t”? “Do I look terrified”? “Maybe I am fifty
shades of green right now”! I finally make my way to the bathroom and find a
clean enough stall to call my own for this awkward moment.
I place my ass on the cold plastic seat and proceed to open the test. It’s a
digital one, so apparently I’ll receive a digital smile if I’m knocked up. Funny.
I start to pee on the test. I quickly pull it up to look at the screen and within
seconds, a smile. Both on my face and the test! Wait! What? Happy? I’m
happy? I want this? Clearly I didn’t know what I wanted myself. But I was
thrilled. I tossed the test into the garbage. Flushed. Washed my hands and ran
out of the bathroom to my partner! Who was unknowingly waiting in line about
to order a BigMac. I squeal, we’re pregnant! Everyone is looking, and I don’t
care! Because we are about to have a little bundle of joy and probably end up
with diapers, bottles, no sleep, soothers, laundry, so much laundry! But I didn’t
care! I’m going to be a mom, and he is going to be a dad and I am about to
celebrate with a Big Mac!
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I packed my bags and grabbed my passport excited to embark on a trip with
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