Two Months Later

There were still three people ahead of her in line, and Reisa was already losing patience. Her legs had gone numb, her body trembling. The relentless nausea forced her to stretch out on the waiting room chair, uncaring of the stares from strangers around her.

“I feel so sick,” she whined.

A piece of sweet bread rested in her hand, her only comfort snack. She had been nibbling at it for a while, complaining about her uneasy stomach. The anti-nausea medicine from her previous check-up hadn’t helped much.

The only time she felt some relief was when she slept. But as soon as she woke, everything she had eaten came back up.

“Oh God, is this what being pregnant feels like?” She didn’t know if she could bear it.

“Patience, Miss. It’ll be our turn soon,” Inah reassured her.

And true enough, after the patient inside finished, the nurse called the next number.

“Queue number ten. Please come in.”

No one stood up, leaving the room in slight confusion.

“Mrs. Reisa. Mrs. Reisa.”

The nurse’s voice rang out again.

“Miss! Miss! They’re calling you.”

Inah nudged Reisa awake. She had dozed off, while Inah had been massaging her sore shoulders and lost count of their number in line.

“Oh, let’s go.”

They hurried into the examination room.

This time the doctor was different from the one Reisa had seen before. Her name was Andini. Every month, Reisa had to rotate doctors—that was her father’s strict instruction. Wisnu, her father, had finally accepted this trial in her life, protecting her fiercely until the day she would give birth.

“Please lay down.”

With the help of a nurse, Reisa lay on the bed. Part of her clothes were pulled back so gel could be applied to her belly.

Dr. Andini placed the ultrasound probe against Reisa’s flat stomach.

“Everything looks good, Mrs. The baby is healthy. Growth is right on track. The weight too.”

“Still so tiny, huh, Doctor? I can’t see it yet,” Reisa murmured, peeking at the screen.

“Yes, Mrs. At twelve weeks this is normal. The length is five centimeters, weight fifteen grams. Look—its little arms and legs are starting to form.”

Dr. Andini pointed to the monitor. Reisa nodded quietly.

“Now listen. This is the heartbeat.”

The sound of the baby’s heart filled the room—dug dug dug—and Reisa’s own heart skipped along with it.

“Boy or girl, Doctor?”

Dr. Andini chuckled softly. Many women asked the same thing.

“Not yet visible, Mrs. Maybe in the second trimester. Be patient, if you keep coming regularly we’ll find out.”

Reisa nodded again, absorbing every explanation.

“All done.”

The probe was set aside and the gel wiped away.

But the moment she sat up, the nausea hit again. A nurse quickly supported her to the sink. Reisa’s face had gone ghostly pale.

“Could you come here, Ma’am?” Dr. Andini gestured to Inah.

“Yes, Doctor?”

“Where did she go for check-ups before?”

“She’s been moving around, Doctor,” Inah admitted, listing the names of several OB-GYNs in the city.

“Oh, including that famous private hospital?”

Inah nodded, unsure. She usually just followed along whenever Tarno drove them.

“Did you bring the medicines and vitamins from before?”

Inah handed over the pouch containing Reisa’s pregnancy pills.

Dr. Andini examined them carefully. The dosage was correct, but given Reisa’s severe nausea, she decided to increase it.

“I’ll prescribe the same anti-nausea, but with a higher dose. From four grams to eight, twice a day.”

Reisa, pale and exhausted, sat beside Inah.

“Mrs. Reisa, you can rest on the sofa for a bit. I’ll explain things to your mother.”

Reisa and Inah exchanged glances and a smile. The doctor must have assumed Inah was her mother. Thankfully, Inah’s neat attire kept the illusion.

“Here’s the prescription, Mrs. Reisa. Fill it at the pharmacy nearby. I’m also adding vitamins so you won’t feel so weak.”

No wonder she had so many patients. Dr. Andini was attentive and kind, with fees surprisingly affordable considering she used 4D ultrasound equipment.

“Thank you, Doctor.”

Inah tucked the prescription into her bag.

“Feel free to save my number. You can message me anytime if you have questions. If I’m not in surgery or too busy, I’ll reply.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

As they turned to leave, Dr. Andini suddenly asked—

“Oh, by the way, Mrs. Reisa. Where’s your husband?”

***

The car ride home was heavy with silence. Reisa, who had been cheerful on the way to see her baby, now stared out the window, withdrawn.

Inah fidgeted nervously. The doctor hadn’t meant any harm—she just didn’t know.

“Oh, by the way, Mrs. Reisa. Where’s your husband?”

The question echoed again in both their minds.

Inah and Reisa had exchanged glances, speechless.

Dr. Andini had looked puzzled, perhaps regretting the question. Maybe she suspected her patient was unmarried.

“He’s… out of town,” Inah blurted.

“Yes, Doctor. My husband is away,” Reisa forced out, her throat tight. Just thinking of Andra made her heart ache again.

“Next time, Mrs. Reisa, it would be better if your husband came with you. Fathers need to be involved too, especially since your condition is weak. You’ll need his support.”

“Y-yes, Doctor.”

Tears stung Reisa’s eyes, but she blinked them back.

“Alright then, see you at the next check-up. Thank you.”

They left quickly. The thought of stopping for chicken porridge, which she had mentioned earlier, now felt impossible. Her appetite was gone. Silent tears streamed down her face as she gazed blankly out the window.

Tarno and Inah exchanged looks. Tarno whispered something.

“What?” Inah leaned closer.

Tarno nodded toward the road and muttered, “There’s a porridge stall up ahead.”

Inah caught on immediately. Reisa hadn’t eaten all day, and she needed something in her stomach.

She gently rubbed Reisa’s back. “Non, Tarno says there’s good porridge nearby. Let’s stop for a bit, okay?”

Reisa shook her head.

“But iam hungry, Miss.”

Tarno hid a smile. Clever Inah.

“You don’t have to eat if you don’t feel like it. Tarno and I can eat. Maybe you can just have some orange juice. Fresh, right?”

Tarno grinned and nodded. “Yeah. It’s hot tonight. I’m thirsty too.”

Reluctantly, Reisa agreed. Relief crossed both Tarno and Inah’s faces.

They parked and found seats. Orders arrived quickly—Bandung-style chicken porridge with emping crackers and chicken liver gizzard topping. The aroma made Reisa swallow hard.

“Do you want some, Miss?” Inah asked.

“…Okay,” Reisa finally admitted, touching her stomach.

“Tarno, order another.”

Tarno waved over the waiter.

“Want the full portion like mine?” he asked.

“Yes, the same,” Reisa nodded.

“But no chili, Miss. It’ll make you more nauseous,” Inah advised.

“Alright.”

The three of them ate heartily together. Reisa even asked for a few extra portions to take home—her excuse was “just in case she wanted some later.”

But deep down, she bought them for Andra. Back in school, chicken porridge had been their favorite.

And tonight, that memory came rushing back, unbidden.