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23:53, 5 February 2025

Angel ReeseAs we sat in first class i literally was frozen. Not a thought went through my head, not a worry or complaint. Just emptiness. All I could think about was the fear I had for this appointment. Was there really a tiny human inside of me, man? "Hey, get out of your head Pooh. You're okay," A'ja said as she rested her hand on my back."I know I'm just...nervous. We had a scare I guess the beginning of this season, and I'm worried Jelani won't take this well," I said as I thought back to that time. —————————13 months ago...—————————One look at my face and he immediately came over, kneeling in front of me. "Angel, what's wrong?" His eyes were full of worry as his hands came up to cup my face. I opened my mouth, but no words would come out. I simply handed him the negative pregnancy test with a trembling hand.Jelani's eyes went wide as he stared down at the single pink line. His head whipped up to look at me, a mixture of shock and hurt flashing across his features. "A pregnancy test? You took a pregnancy test...without telling me?" I shrank back a little at the accusatory tone in his voice. "Jelani, I—""No, don't 'Jelani' me," he cut me off, pushing himself up to stand. He brushed his hand over his hair agitatedly. "We're in a relationship, Angel. We're supposed to be a team on this stuff. You can't just go behind my back like that."Guilt twisted in my gut as his words hit me. He was right; I should've been upfront with him about my fears instead of sneaking around. "You're right, I'm sorry,"—————————

"Oh baby girl, I didn't know," she led with as I nodded wiping a stray tear."Yeah and I mean like I don't blame him for reacting the at he did, cause I did go about it wrong. But like I don't know. We're married now and we live in the same city so it shouldn't be an issue I don't think? I don't know A,"

A'ja squeezed my shoulder reassuringly, her voice softer now. "Angel, you're overthinking it. Yeah, maybe that situation wasn't ideal, but that was over a year ago. Y'all are in a different place now. You're married, you're settled, and most importantly, you're not alone in this."

I let out a shaky breath, leaning my head back against the seat. "I know. I just— I don't want him to feel like I'm springing this on him, you know? Like, what if he reacts the same way? What if he's not ready?"

A'ja gave me a knowing look, crossing her arms. "And what if he is? You're letting fear write a script in your head that hasn't even played out yet. Give him the chance to show you he's grown too."

I nodded slowly, letting her words sink in. She was right. I was assuming the worst before I even gave Jelani a chance to process the news.

The rest of the flight passed in silence, my thoughts still racing, but now with a little less panic. When we landed, I grabbed my phone, hesitating before sending Jelani a text.

Me: Landed. Got a doctor's appointment in an hour. Can we talk after?

I watched the three little dots pop up, then disappear, then come back again before his reply finally came through.

Jelani: Of course. Everything okay?

I swallowed hard before typing back.

Me: I'll tell you after the appointment.

I locked my phone and let out a breath. No turning back now.

"Ready?" A'ja asked as we exited the plane.

I adjusted my bag over my shoulder, exhaling deeply. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Sitting in the waiting room, my knee bounced restlessly as my fingers twisted together in my lap. The sterile scent of the clinic, the faint hum of low conversation, and the rhythmic tapping of the receptionist's keyboard all blended into background noise.But my mind? My mind was loud as hell.A'ja sat beside me, flipping through a magazine like we weren't sitting here about to hear life-changing news. "You're gonna give yourself an anxiety attack if you don't stop shaking your leg like that," she muttered without looking up.I sighed, placing a hand on my knee to stop it from moving. "I can't help it. What if-""Don't," she cut in, finally setting the magazine down to look at me. "Don't start listing every worst-case scenario in your head. You're here now. That means whatever happens, you're facing it head-on. That's all you can do."Before I could respond, the nurse called my name. My stomach clenched as I stood, glancing at A'ja."You got this, Pooh." She gave me a reassuring nod before I followed the nurse through the door.

The room was cold, making the thin paper sheet on the exam table feel even more uncomfortable. I tapped my fingers against my thigh as I waited for the doctor, my heart pounding in my ears.When the door opened, Dr. Richardson, a woman with kind brown eyes and a calm presence, stepped inside. "Angel, it's good to see you again. How are you feeling?"I forced a tight smile. "Honestly? Nervous."She nodded knowingly. "That's completely understandable. But let's take this one step at a time, okay?"I swallowed hard and nodded."Alright, based on your last period and symptoms, we'll do a quick ultrasound to confirm how far along you are. Go ahead and lie back for me."

The cold gel on my stomach sent a shiver through me as I lay back, my hands gripping the thin paper sheet beneath me. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears as Dr. Richardson moved the ultrasound probe across my skin, her expression neutral but focused.

I held my breath, my eyes glued to the screen. And then—there it was.

A baby. A fully developed baby.

My stomach dropped as the rhythmic, steady sound of a heartbeat filled the room.

"That's..." My voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper.

Dr. Richardson's brows furrowed slightly as she adjusted the machine, taking another set of measurements. "Angel, based on what I'm seeing here, you're measuring at approximately... twenty weeks and four days."

I blinked. The words didn't register at first.

"...damn?"

She turned to me, her expression carefully composed. "You're about five months pregnant, give or take a few days."

My entire body tensed. "No, I heard you—it's just crazy" I stammered. "I haven't even been showing! I've still been playing, training, lifting weights—how is that even possible?"

Dr. Richardson nodded slowly, as if she expected this reaction. "Angel, have you heard of cryptic pregnancies?"

I shook my head, my throat dry.

"It's rare, but some women don't experience the typical pregnancy symptoms early on. Their bodies don't respond the way most do—sometimes they don't gain much weight, don't feel fetal movement as early, and their cycles can be irregular enough to not even notice a missed period. Based on your history as an elite athlete, your body has been under intense physical strain, which could have masked a lot of the usual signs."

I stared at the ultrasound screen in shock, my mind spinning. "So the test was right...I'm five months pregnant, and I had no idea?"

Dr. Richardson gave me a reassuring look. "It happens more often than you'd think. The good news is that from what I'm seeing, the baby looks healthy. But we'll need to be extra cautious moving forward. Since you haven't been receiving prenatal care up until now, I want to monitor you closely—more frequent checkups, additional ultrasounds, and making sure you're getting the right nutrients to support both you and the baby."

I exhaled sharply, pressing a shaky hand to my forehead. Five months. Not eight weeks.

I was almost in my third trimester.

This wasn't just a little life growing inside me anymore—this baby was already formed, growing stronger every day."Do you mind if I take a picture? For my husband?" I asked as she nodded.

"I know this is a lot to process," Dr. Richardson said gently. "Take a moment. I'll step out and give you some privacy."

I nodded numbly as she left the room, my gaze still locked onto the ultrasound screen.

Five months.

I had been pregnant this whole time and never even knew it.

Outside the Clinic

Stepping outside, I gripped the ultrasound photos so tightly they crinkled in my hands. The moment A'ja saw my face, she pushed off the car, her usual smirk replaced with concern.

"What happened? What's wrong?"

I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm... five months pregnant."

A'ja's eyes widened. "Wow, okay,"

I nodded, still feeling like I was floating outside my own body. "The doctor said it's a cryptic pregnancy. I haven't had the usual symptoms, and because of my training, my body probably didn't react the way it normally would."

A'ja let out a low whistle, rubbing her hands over her face. "Damn. So, what does that mean? Is the baby okay?"

I exhaled shakily. "Yeah. They just want to monitor me closely, more appointments, extra precautions to make sure everything stays healthy."

She nodded, processing. "Alright. That's good. That's manageable."

I let out a hollow laugh. "I guess. But now I have to tell Jelani I've been pregnant for five months and had no clue."

A'ja winced. "Yeah, uh... that's a tough conversation."

I pulled out my phone, seeing Jelani's unread messages.

Jelani: Everything okay?Jelani: Angel?

I took a deep breath and typed back.

Me: Can you meet me at the house? We need to talk. It's important.

The reply was almost instant.

Jelani: On my way.

I locked my phone and blew out a slow breath.