Thrust Into His Arms

"I am so late! Get the injection and go to school after!

Answer whatever questions that the nurse will ask you, and get the injection. Bye!" Mom rambled out those instructions before running out the door of the clinic and leaving. Just then the woman calls me to the desk. "Name, Gweneth Calloway. Age 16 and half right?" She says.

I respond with a nod. "Come with me." I follow her into a large ward where there were a few other nurses tending to patients.

"When did you start having sex, and when was the last time you had it?"

God, this is so damn awkward! There are some other people here and they probably heard it because her tone is strong. She had asked that so normally like she was asking what I had for breakfast. I quickly realize that this is normal for her. She must have done this like a hundred times. "I haven’t." I answered.

"Be truthful honey. We are not here to judge. That is not our profession."

"That is the truth." The micro smirk that comes on her face tells that she still doesn’t believe me. "Look, I am telling you, I have not had sex. I am still a virgin. And I plan to keep it that way for now until the next two years."

She is still eyeing me skeptically. "But your mom said that you have a boyfriend."

That woman! I internally sigh, feeling embarrassed. "He is not really my boyfriend." I say. "My mom is just seeing it that way because she really likes him. He has someone else that he likes. And it is not me." I have gone out of my way to tell her this to convince her, so she had better believe and give me that damn injection and free me of my silent panic and embarrassment so I can get out of here!

"You sound like you have a crush on him." She states coolly.

"No I don’t."

I do like Rex. A whole lot. But I do not want to be stupid and feed my mind with romantic ideas of the two of us that would most likely never happen. That would be hurtful.

"We are just friends, and I like it that way." I did not need to try to sound convincing because it is not a lie. "Okay." She leaves and returns minutes later with a tray.

I am watching her with dread as she is withdrawing the injection serum from a vial into a syringe.

A sharp scream pierces into the walls just then. It really startled me. The woman sighs deeply. "We really should complete that budget for soundproofing before the end of this year.

Sorry dear. This is a very regular occurrence here. Don’t be frightened." She says with a small smile. I am not that frightened. I am just curious as to what amount of pain would cause someone to be screaming so hard like this. What caused it? "You’re curious aren’t you?"

I look at her in surprise. How did she know? Did I make it obvious? "The new patient. I saw how you were looking at her." She adds.

"I—I did not mean to be rude. I was only curious." I stammer. "I know. I could see it. Most people look at her with disdain. Wondering how a promising teenager, barely sixteen ended up pregnant. But you did not look at her that way." She smiles. "Thanks for that."

"You’re welcome." I stammer out again as I thought whether or not to respond that way or at all. There is a burning question in my mind that I need to ask, and I feel like I would regret it if I don’t. "Uhmm, can I ask you a question?" I started.

"By all means, yes."

"That girl—I mean the patient. Is she about to give birth? Is that why she is screaming like this? Is it so painful?" I have heard and read a post on the internet about a woman that died during childbirth. I just don’t understand it. I did not want to ask mom. But the way she talks about pregnancy to me does not sound pleasant.

"You have no idea." She answers softly. "It is not easy to bring a life into this world. Especially at that age of hers and for a person so irresponsible. Stay away from bad boys, darling." She advices. "This is what I always say to adolescent and teenage girls like you.

Pleasure is not worth it if it ruins your life in the end. I always tell them, but they do not listen. You look like you will. And I am glad that your mom made this decision to put you on birth control. I put my twin nieces last week. It was a battle of tooths and nails." She cackles.

They thought it was nonsense. A lot of parents do.

They just do not want to believe that it does way more good than harm. It is a necessary precaution in our society today. Fold that arm sleeve up and let me know when you are ready." I did as she told. "This would sting for a bit. You might want to hold onto that little comfort gummy bear besides you. It is there for that purpose." I look at the small brown gummy bear. "No thank you. I can take it. I’II be fine." My heart was doing backflips as she brings the needle closer and closer. I quickly look away when it neared my skin. It pierced it so sharply and painfully. I bite the inside of my mouth and clenched my fists tightly. She soon takes the needle out and presses on a swab.

"There. Hold it and keep pressing." She instructs.

"This injection only takes effect in three months. It stops after that and would need to be renewed. I have already explained to your mom but I also have to tell you Incase she misses some details. Your appointment is in two weeks. But do come before then if you have overwhelming side effects and complaints."

Overwhelming side effects? I don’t like the sound of that.