The voice responding to her was Riley’s sobs. Alice realized that the child she had desperately tried to terminate was indeed gone. This realization filled her with an overwhelming sadness. The child came and then left, and she whispered, “I’m sorry, baby. Mommy didn’t protect you…”
As Alice became more aware, the pain in her abdomen intensified, a heavy, chilling agony that left her gasping. She felt powerless, and Riley’s crying made her heart ache. She knew she had scared Riley, but she simply had no strength left. Most troubling was the discomfort she felt in her lower body—it was like something was—
“Riley, I need to use the bathroom.” Despite the pain, Alice whispered to her friend.
Riley froze and quickly asked, “Do you feel like you need to poop?”
Alice nodded, but Riley replie
