She said she wanted to keep the baby—he nodded and drove her straight to a hospital.

Finding reason in chaos

As I entered the bright, bare hallway of the clinic, I turned my gaze up to the neon lights, which seemed like a symbol of the clarity I was so desperately searching for. For a moment, I was able to pause here and reorient myself; the sterile surroundings offered a comforting contrast to the chaos outside. It was only a temporary respite, but one that I gratefully accepted as I prepared for the next step - whatever that might bring.

Preparing for what comes next

I took a deep breath and went to reception, where a woman eyed me kindly but curiously. I needed a plan and needed to sort out my jumbled thoughts: What was in those papers? What had Drew set in motion? I was struggling to find clarity, but I knew it was crucial to get answers. I leaned against the counter and drew strength from this brief moment of pause.