34 ??Some shocking news?? (1/2)

LEIA

I came out of the bathroom, worried out of my mind.

No period. Again.

When was the last time I had my period? Two months ago?

No, even before. Three and a half, perhaps. Four. I had lost count.

Is that what the doctor was about to tell me before Zayn came in that day? Is that why I had been feeling so emotional lately? Why I had been wanting to hold a baby so bad?

I bit my lip, hard enough to make it bleed. I couldn't believe this was happening. It wasn't that I didn't want a baby. I just never thought it would be with Ammar.

Ammar's baby.

No, my heart whispered. It's your child. Your gift.

One second, I had been crying and then I was smiling so big. I didn't care that Ammar was going to be the father of my child. I really didn't care. I would never let my child feel the lack of a father. Nor would he feel unwanted. He was mine. Or she. I didn't know.

I touched my stomach, looking down. I felt the bump and a sob burst out. A wondrous feeling overtook me. It was like butterflies. But so much better.

As soon as I saw Ammar's face, though, all happy feelings vanished. I never wanted my child to see his face. But something else dawned on me.

I had studied the Fiqh of Marriage and Divorce. It was basically Islamic rulings over these matters. I couldn't get divorced.

I turned away. Oh no.

I couldn't get divorced while I was pregnant. I could separate from Ammar and it was only after my delivery that he could divorce me.

I startled when a hand touched my shoulder.