Chapter 10: The First Appointments
The first outpatient prenatal visit took place three days later at the adolescent clinic affiliated with Riverside. Maya sat through the history, the measurements, and the quiet explanation of what thirteen weeks meant for her body. She asked practical questions—about the pain, about what she could eat, about whether the dizziness would continue—and listened to the answers without performing bravery. The clinic social worker reviewed the support options available to her as a minor and confirmed that decisions about the pregnancy itself remained hers to make within the legal framework, with counseling offered at every step. I stayed in the room when she wanted me there and stepped out when she asked for space. Robert was informed of the appointment through the formal channel; he did not appear.
