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The woman walked to the front door and opened it, quickly striding in.
Right away, Saff could see that this house was different.
It had been laid out differently, with much more open space, and without the decor or furniture of the other two houses.
Actually, it didn’t really look like a house at all now that she was inside. It more so resembled a makeshift medical bay.
She froze for a second, feeling the familiarity of being in a hospital. A feeling she thought she’d never experience again.
She blinked, swallowing it down as she realized where she had walked to. A small bed in the corner, with a woman.
Saff began walking toward her and then instantly realized.
Her stomach.
She was pregnant.Verypregnant.
Saff’s steps slowed as she approached.
“How are you doing?” the woman asked, in a much softer tone than Saff had heard her use before.
The young woman in the bed gave her a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Hanging in there.”
Then the woman in the bed gave Saff a questioning look.
“Sarah, this is Saff. She’s a doctor. She’s here to take a look at you.”
Sarah’s eyes brightened, and the smile that then filled her face didn’t look like it took any effort at all. She looked back at the older woman. “How—how did you—“
She shook her head, waving her off. “It doesn’t matter.” Then she looked over at Saff and nodded toward Sarah.
Saff cleared her throat, suddenly feeling her training reemerge after lying dormant for so long.
“Hi Sarah,” she said, her professional tone suddenly snapping into place. She cleared her throat, more out of nerves than necessity. “Do you want to tell me what’s been going on?”
“Yeah,” Sarah placed her hands on her belly. “There’s been a lot,” she said, the slightly pained look on her face returning.
From where Saff stood, she could already see the immense level of swelling over her knuckles and fingers.
“A few weeks ago, I got a really bad headache that just wouldn’t go away. I’ve had the morning sickness pretty badly, but just recently I started getting really dizzy, too.”
Saff scanned her face, as her brain instantly began running through possible other symptoms and diagnoses.
“Have you had any spotting?” she asked.
Sarah shook her head. “No. Well,” she paused, thinking, “not since the very beginning.”
Saff took a step forward, leaning in to examine her hands. “When did this swelling start?”
“Oh, um, maybe a month ago?” Sarah answered, lifting a hand to rub her fingers into her forehead. “Sorry, I’m not sure. Everything’s been a little foggy.”
Saff nodded in understanding, giving her a small smile. She was shocked at how quickly her bedside manner had returned.
Saff stepped forward again, knees resting against the end of the bed. She motioned toward the woman’s feet. “Do you mind if I take a look?” she asked, nodding at the blanket covering her legs.
“Oh, no, of course, go ahead.”
Saff gently lifted the edge of the blanket, instantly revealing swollen feet and ankles beneath.