Captured By The Dragon
Episode 35

Patara

The nausea didn’t end.

I’d wake up each day feeling sick to the point that I couldn’t even look at eggs without throwing up. Let alone smell them—just the thought could make me lose my breakfast. I just couldn’t understand why my stomach was so sensitive, it had never been this way before.

My mother and older sister watched me closely to the point that they made me feel as if I was doing something wrong. Every room I went into—they would be there with a strange look on there face as they followed every move I made.

“The doctor will be here this afternoon.” My mother said from my doorway. She eyed my clothes and tried to hide her distaste that I was still in my pajamas even though it was almost noon. “Please get dressed and do something with your hair—“

My mother closed her eyes and took a breath. “I mean, if you can, dear. Please. Thank you.”

She offered a small smile before she closed the door behind her. It had been like that since I returned. My family gave me the space I needed and let me know that they were there for me, but I could tell that they didn’t know how else to act. They didn’t know how to help heal me, but being there was enough.

My mother tamed her criticisms of me, but I could always read it on her face. It was on the tip of her tongue and one look from my dad made her swallow whatever words she had. I knew it wouldn’t last forever, but it was nice for now. It was nice not to have to worry about what I did or said.

I got out of bed for the first time in what felt like years and readied myself for the day. I wore a nice sweater that my mother had bought me last holiday and jeans. I tied my long hair up high and put on the simplest makeup before I forced myself to go down the stairs.

At least my nausea had seemed to pass for the day—but how long would it last? How long until something else triggered my disgust?

“Patara?” A kind voice said from the living room. A woman in a doctor’s coat stood and held out her hand. “Hi, sweetheart. My name is Dr. Lily. How are you feeling?”

“I just… I feel a little nauseous but I think it passed for the day.”

Dr. Lily raised her brows. “For the day? Has it been returning each day?”

“Yes, since I got back… do you think my body got sick in the shifter land and I’m feeling it now?” I asked. The doctor led me to sit on the couch near her. My parents were thankfully gone from the room.

“Well, it’s possible. Not many humans return from the shifter lands. I do know that some of them have returned sick… can I ask you some questions about your experience there and what you went through? If you’re comfortable answering them, that is…”

I shifted a little and pushed my hair behind my ear. Her gentle voice was the only reason I even considered saying yes. “I—yes. You can.”

The doctor smiled a little and it eased up my nerves. Her voice was calm, steady and low to make sure it stayed between us. I stared at her and wondered how old she was—not more than late twenties?

“Did you… were you raped while you were there?”

I knew the question was coming, but it still made me flinch. I parted my lips, but no sound came out.

“Let me rephrase that… did any of the men touch you or penetrate you—“

“Yes!” I said quickly and quietly before she kept going. She acted as if I wouldn’t know what s*x was…which I suppose I didn’t before it happened. I let out a small breath. “Yes. Once.”

The woman frowned and held my knee in comfort. “It’s okay, Patara. You’re safe now, you don’t have to worry about those men ever touching you again.”

I nodded slowly. A flash of Dylan’s smirk entered my mind and I only pushed it away before she continued to speak.

“I’m going to need you to do a pregnancy test for me, Patara.”

“A pregnancy test?!” I quickly lowered my voice and glanced at the door. “From one time?”

“Oh yes, many girls get pregnant from just one s****l encounter. Your symptoms are very common for someone who might be in early stages of a pregnancy and I don’t want you to worry, it might not be that at all—“

“But you think it might be?” I whispered. Oh my god—my mother was going to kill me. She was going to disown me and throw me out—

The doctor took my hand and spoke gently. “It’s going to be okay, Patara. If you are pregnant, there are many options to consider—“

“Options?” I squeaked.

“Let’s get the test done first. We can do it right here in your home. I also would like to check your body for any other potential wounds you may have gotten—“

“Let’s just do the test first.” I said quickly. I didn’t want her to see the dragon mark on my shoulder just yet.

Dr. Lily smiled a little and got up to dig through her bag. When she handed me the test, I hurried to the bathroom and locked myself inside.

The test she gave me was different than the ones I saw at drugstores. It looked more… fancy and official. I followed the directions and brought the test straight to her when I was finished.

The silence after that was crucial. I knew my mother must have been waiting nearby. She must have been trying to hear every word but I only prayed that she wasn’t. I prayed that she was far from this room and maybe out in the backyard with my father.

“What… options did you mean?” I asked while we waited.

Dr. Lily looked at me with a gentle expression. She made me wish she was my mother for a moment. Someone so soft and gentle. Someone who seemed understanding and even loving.

Instead, I was terrified of my own mother if that test came back positive.

“Well, you have several. If you are pregnant, you’re still very early on. You can get an abortion or give the baby away for adoption once it’s born. You don’t have to keep this baby at all, Patara. Please remember that—you don’t have to be reminded of what happened to you.”

I swallowed and glanced down at her hand that squeezed mine. My skin burned—I could feel Dylan’s lips trail across it like a ghost. Silent tears spilled down my face and reminded me of the nights I hoped he would come to me.

Doctor Lily dropped my hand and went to check the test. I saw her visibly swallow before she turned to look at me.

“It… it’s positive, Patara.”

I… I was pregnant.