Page 131 of Lyric Squared

“I just knew.” Her voice cracked as the tears began again. “I knew.”

“Shhhhhhh.”

“I just keep wondering if it was my stress that is to blame for this. It feels like my fault.”

“It’s not. The doctor assured you that it wasn’t. When I talked to my aunt, she told me that a woman’s body has a mind of its own. It’s the most powerful thing on the planet, too.

“She said that things that weren’t visible on a seven-week ultrasound, your body most likely knew and determined that the baby either wasn’t viable, wasn’t healthy, or was a threat to your health. Either way, no one will ever know because there’s no explanation for why this happened. Everything was just fine, or at least we thought it was.”

“I really wanted this.”

“Me, too.”

“Did you get me something to change into? I’d like to get dressed now.”

“Yeah. I went to the shopping center down the road and grabbed you something comfortable.”

I peeled her hand from around mine and stretched to grab the bag from the windowsill. I began placing the articles of clothing on the bed near her feet.

“Okay. They’ll be here at any minute to hand me my papers. I want to be ready. I can’t stand to be here any longer. I’m ready to go home.”

“You want me to have your mom to go by there and get your place ready for you before we make it?”

“I’m not talking about my place, Keanu. I’m talking about yours,” she clarified, bringing a smile to my face.

“Oh yeah?”

“Yes.”

Just as Lyric pulled her pants up and tightened them with the strings in the front, the nurse walked in. With bouncy hair andthe same sad smile we all wore, she began running down Lyric’s care instructions for home.

“Okay, honey. We need you on plenty of fluids, preferably water. There’s a prescription for antibiotics to make sure that you don’t catch an infection. Take those twice a day for seven days and you should be out of the woods. Get as much rest as you can.

“You don’t have to lay around the house all day, but we do expect you off your feet for at least the first three days. Dizzy spells may come and go. Your body is still trying to rid itself of any threats. Only take showers and make sure they are assisted. No baths. That’s the quickest way to catch an infection. We don’t want that. Any questions?”

I noted everything, locking it in my memory so that I wouldn’t forget a thing.

“No,” Lyric responded.

“Alright. Again, I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope you feel better soon,” she told Lyric before stepping out of the room.

“Ok. Please get me far away from here.”

I obliged, taking Lyric by the hand and slowly walking down the hall with her. She’d made it clear that she was capable of walking and refused a wheelchair when the nurse offered it as a part of her discharge. Slowly, we made strides and was soon exiting. My truck was near the entry, but I still wanted to pull around for her.

When I slid in, I adjusted the seats that Laike had tampered with to suit his figure while driving. I started my engine and backed out of the tight space once I was in the clear. Right in front of the entrance, I hopped out and ushered Lyric inside. She settled after a few grunts.

“You ready?” I asked after securing her seatbelt.

“Yes,” she replied with a nod. “I just want to sleep so that I won’t even have to deal with this right now.”

“I understand, baby. I promise I do.”

I circled the truck and hopped in the driver’s seat. Before taking off into the night, I felt Lyric’s hand on mine. I exposed my palms so that she could rest hers inside. Our fingers locked between each other before we both collapsed them together. And just like that, we made our way home…to my home.

I obeyed every traffic law.

I stopped at every traffic light.