SERAPHINA'S STOLEN HAPPINESS

PERSON

er small designer handbag. The bag matched her Forever twenty-one outfit perfectly, but she barely not

ble outcome of the test results, but it was becoming increasing

posters and calendars displaying information about women's reproductive health, the walls were tastefully decorated with elegant g

mo

t was the same facility she had been unable to afford three years ago, back when the though

brought her into marriage with a wealthy and famous man, giving h

urrounding her now, there was

e of

or. She had been waiting for Dr. Bradford's consultation,

esults confir

was somethi

ng to push the dist

, the doo

tened in her seat, her finger

ace and an air of experience that came naturally with years of medical practice. She wore a neatl

Dr. B

, the doctor's appearance did little to ease her anxiety. Her white coat, professional demeanour an

r eyes were

them that made Seraphina fee

ir, arranged the documents on her

Alexander," she said gently, s

ared at her

smile so pleasantly when she had spent the past few days

s. Alexander. You're

eraphina simply

ha

her lips louder t

e hospital, pregnancy had been the last thing on her mind. She

l times, hoping sh

. Bradford repeated,

s parted, but n

sity. She had expected a different response, perhaps a smile, a happy gasp or even tears of joy.

rised," Dr. Br

began, struggling to

her handbag, then

," she explained, forcing out a small laugh. "We wanted to have

dford c

longer, weren't you. That's what younger couple do thes

of her own, although it di

doctor kne

nothing enjoyable about the situation

that the circumstances surrounding her marr

nancy, which should have been a blessing, had

iscuss with just anyone, especially

tly, playing along with

nodded in u

s their own plans, and there's nothing wrong with wanti

ul that the conversation

r concern quick

mething els

ah

traception. So, I'm quite surprised t

rried genuin

necessary to prevent an unexpected pregnancy. Yet here she was, sittin

that h

aned back sligh

uccess rates can fail under certain circumstances. Condoms, for instance, are barrier methods th

though her thoughts were already

She paused, trying to p

possibility the co

Using contraception significantly reduces the chances

a slowly

hands, rubbing her th

thing that had suddenly become more importa

that mean..."

rd waited

could be something w

ame out almost

r eyes to mee

d the contraception somehow failed, I just want to be sur

ng the office, her voice reveal

possibility of something being wrong with the c

d's express

does not automatically mean that your baby will have a birth defect or any

d before

What matters now is that you begin the appropriate antenatal care and at

reath she hadn't real

you s

that anything is wrong. Just make sure you follow the medical advice given

ka

, feeling a litt

white envelope lying on her

from your investigations, including the ultrasoun

ed the envelope

spital's logo was printed neatly on the front, but

o small could carry news capab

ba

ped to the en

s was not e

ould give them a reason to look beyond the walls they had built around themselves. Maybe the ar

king, but she couldn't help

oman wouldn't wan

to feel loved by the ma

ps curved into

turning point she h

dford," she said, r

Alexander. And congr

nk y

e of yourself. I'll see yo

hina

wil

er handbag, making sure it was secure be

door, her thoughts had alr

't wait to

oaching, and suddenly, she had found the