Chapter 7: Morning Light text
Morning arrived under the same fluorescent lights that had witnessed the first scan. Maya’s pain had eased with the overnight fluids and medication; her color was better, though the new knowledge sat on her face like a weight she was still learning to carry. Dr. Lawson and the obstetric consult reviewed the overnight notes and confirmed that she was stable enough for discharge planning once counseling and follow-up care were arranged. Ms. Patel returned with a clearer outline of the hospital’s obligations: because Maya was a minor, certain notifications were required, but the timing and manner could prioritize her medical and emotional readiness. I stated again that I would not permit Robert to enter the room while Maya was still processing, and that any conversation with him would happen outside her hearing until she chose otherwise.
Maya asked to speak with the counselor alone for twenty minutes. When she finished, she told me she was not ready to decide anything permanent about the pregnancy. She only wanted the pain managed, the next appointments scheduled, and the certainty that her father would not be allowed to call her a liar in front of the people now treating her. I agreed to all three.
