A few days later, Erika had finally pieced together the "new" events of the last eight months. She had first discovered she was pregnant when her belly showed signs of bloating. The doctor determined she was in her third month by then, but couldn't explain how it was possible. Erika claimed she had never had sex, and the doctor confirmed it. He said her body hadn't reached a point in her puberty where she would start ovulating. Adding this to the fact that scans couldn't pick up a clear visual of the baby, Erika was gravely concerned for what the salve had done to her.
Taunting at school continued, but from very few students. Her new outcast status did not help get her new friends, though. She was just as much an introvert as she had always been.
She grew more worried every day of her ninth month. The baby, or whatever it was, continued kicking and turning.
When she was two weeks overdue, her mother took her back to the doctor. He still wasn't able to figure out what was wrong. He kept Erika in the hospital overnight for observation, but still nothing revealed itself. He told Erika's mother to wait a few more days.
Those few more days turned into another two weeks, and now a month overdue, Erika found herself back at the doctor's yet again.
"I recommend an immediate C-section," he told Erika's mother frankly.
"Will that harm the baby?" her mother asked.
"It's no less dangerous than keeping it inside Erika. If we keep it in much longer it might cause permanent damage to Erika's body."
Erika protested. She didn't know what was inside of her, but she had an unshakable feeling that it should be left to come out on its own...whenever that might be. She refused to have the surgery until they knew for sure if she was in danger. "So what if it's a month late? This is my baby, and I'm going to deliver it the right way."