The house was quiet.

Larry was still asleep when Bethany stood beside the bed, struggling to breathe through another wave of pain.

She looked at Larry.

Another wave hit her.

Larry sighed.

Bethany struggled to request an Uber.

Her hands were shaking because another painful cramp suddenly hit her.

She leaned against the wall and breathed slowly.

A few minutes later, the Uber arrived.

Bethany slowly walked outside and got into the car.

She looked back toward the house.

Larry never came outside.

The Uber drove away.

Bethany held her stomach the entire ride.

Bethany rushed into the emergency department.

Bethany was quickly taken into an examination room.

Bethany lay back on the hospital bed.

She kept staring at the ceiling.

Several minutes passed.

Bethany waited nervously.

The doctor returned to the room holding the test results.

Silence.

Bethany stopped breathing for a moment.

Her eyes widened.

Bethany slowly sat up.

Her hands began trembling.

Bethany stared at the floor.

Her heart was pounding.

BETHANY — THINKING: How did this happen?

She closed her eyes.

BETHANY — THINKING: Larry hasn’t even touched me.

Her breathing became faster.

BETHANY — THINKING: Then whose baby is this?

Bethany covered her mouth.

She suddenly felt like the entire room was spinning.

Bethany was taken for an ultrasound.

She lay quietly while the technician examined her.

The room was almost completely silent.

Bethany stared at the monitor.

Then she heard it.

A faint, rhythmic sound.

Bethany’s hand moved toward her mouth.

She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

A baby’s heartbeat.

But the happiness lasted only seconds.

The same question returned.

BETHANY — THINKING: If I’m pregnant… then how?

BETHANY — THINKING: Larry hasn’t touched me.

Bethany sat alone on the hospital bed.

She stared at her hands.

Her entire understanding of her marriage was falling apart.

BETHANY — THINKING: Maybe I’m dreaming.

She looked around the hospital room.

The machines were still running.

The nurses were still moving outside.

Everything was real.

Bethany wiped away her tears.

But one question refused to leave her mind.

Who was the father of her baby?

Bethany looked down at her stomach, completely overwhelmed by fear and confusion.

She still couldn’t understand how any of this had happened.

And the truth was still waiting to be discovered…