Chapter 2 Pregnancy Test

Sarah woke to the sound of hurried footsteps and faint voices of nurses attending to other patients. Her eyes fluttered open, blurry at first, but slowly, the room came into focus. She stared at the plain white ceiling above her, the sharp smell of disinfectant telling her she was in a hospital.

"Ouch," Sarah groaned, her hand instinctively trying to touch her neck, but her arm was heavy with bandages. "Where... where am I?" she mumbled, her voice weak and barely audible.

She tried to turn her head to look around, but the neck brace holding her head still made even the smallest movement painful. Flashes of memory began to return-the car crash, the truck, the overwhelming pain-and she realized how she'd ended up here.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Her father, Mr. Simon, walked in, his face pale and full of concern.

"Sarah!" he called, rushing to her side. He bent down and gently hugged her, his relief spilling out in his voice. "Thank goodness you're alive," he said, his tone shaky with emotion.

"Ugh, it hurts, Dad," Sarah groaned, wincing as even the small hug sent a wave of pain through her body.

"Sorry, dear," Mr. Simon said softly as he pulled away from his daughter. His face was full of regret as he wiped his tears. "I am so sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you."

"It's okay, Dad," Sarah replied, her voice quiet. She gave him a small smile, but it didn't hide the sadness in her eyes. Mr. Simon turned away, his shoulders heavy with guilt.

"What's wrong, Dad?" Sarah asked, her tone curious yet gentle as she watched him.

"The wedding has to happen," Mr. Simon said quickly, turning back to face her. "I tried to make them understand, but the mayor won't listen. He insists that-"

"Go away," Sarah interrupted, her voice soft but firm. She turned her face away, avoiding his gaze.

"I'm sorry, Sar-"

"I said go away!" Sarah shouted, tears streaming down her face. Her emotions spilled over, and she began to cry uncontrollably.

Suddenly, the sound of sirens blared from outside. The loud noise startled them both. Mr. Simon glanced toward the door and then back at Sarah. "They're here, Sarah," he said nervously.

Sarah sat up quickly, her heart racing. But the sudden movement sent a sharp pain through her back. "What? No... no! I didn't agree to this!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with anger and fear. "This isn't how I planned my life!" She clutched her neck as another wave of pain hit her. "Ouch," she groaned.

Meanwhile, Andrew, his father, and the priest arrived at the hospital. A crowd of guests followed them as they made their way toward the ward where Sarah was recovering.

Sarah sat on the hospital bed, her face blank and her mind clouded with despair. She felt trapped, like a bird in a cage with no way out. Her thoughts raced as she tried to figure out a way to stop the marriage. Could she fake a sudden illness, one serious enough to halt the wedding? Or perhaps she could find a way to escape, disappearing before anyone could reach her. These ideas churned in her head, but none seemed feasible. Frustration welled up inside her as she whispered to herself, "I need to do something." Her voice was barely audible, but the determination behind it was real. She slumped back into the bed, the stiff neck support making even the smallest movements a struggle.

Across the room, her father stood quietly, his face etched with guilt and worry. "I'm sorry, Sarah," Mr. Simon said softly, his voice thick with regret as he approached her. He wanted to comfort her, to make her understand that he had no choice, but the pain in her eyes made it difficult to find the right words. He reached out, intending to hold her hand, but Sarah pulled away sharply, turning her face toward the wall. Her silence spoke louder than any words could.

Outside the ward, the commotion grew louder. The mayor and Andrew, followed by a small crowd of important-looking guests and the priest, made their way through the hospital corridors. Their presence caused a ripple of curiosity among the hospital staff and patients. Nurses paused in their duties, glancing at the group with puzzled expressions.

"What's going on?" asked a young nurse, balancing a tray of bandages and syringes. Her colleague at the receptionist desk leaned forward, trying to get a better look. "Someone important must be here," she whispered, her voice tinged with excitement.

As the entourage approached Sarah's room, she remained lost in her thoughts. Panic bubbled within her as she tried to devise a last-minute plan to stop the inevitable. "How can I possibly get married in a hospital, like this?" she blurted out, her voice shaking with anger and disbelief. She turned to her father, who stood near the window with his hands buried deep in his pockets. He looked weary, as though the weight of his decisions was finally catching up to him.

Mr. Simon sighed, shrugging his shoulders. "I'll speak with the mayor," he began hesitantly, "maybe I can convince him to at least postpone this, or allow you to get properly dressed

Before he could finish, the door swung open with a loud creak, startling them both.

Sarah's head instinctively turned toward the doorway, her heart skipping a beat as a glimmer of hope flashed across her face. For a brief moment, she imagined someone had come to rescue her, to put an end to this nightmare. "Yes!" she exclaimed impulsively, her voice filled with sudden excitement.

Her father looked at her with confusion. "Did you say something?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Realizing her mistake, Sarah quickly shook her head, trying to mask her momentary lapse. "No, nothing, Dad," she replied, forcing a smile. The brightness in her expression seemed out of place, given the situation, but she hoped he wouldn't notice.