Milo walks out of the public restroom, straightening the wrinkles of his uniform. He ties his apron around his waist before walking over to the large sink of dirty dishes. Milo sighs and puts on heavy duty rubber gloves.
Every time Milo thinks he’s done washing all of the dishes, more of the waiters come through the door to drop more dirty dishes off. Milo rolls his eyes, throwing more dishes in the sink to clean.
It is now 5pm, and Milo wipes the sweat from his forehead with his arm. He yanks the gloves off and hangs them from the edge of the sink. He unties the apron and hangs it up on the door hook, then grabbing his bookbag from his locker.
He walks out of the break room, heading towards the front door of the pizza parlor. Sal is seen wiping down the tables of each booth.
Sal: Everything is clean?
Milo: Yep. Gloves are drying for Malcolm’s shift.
Sal smiles and walks behind the counter.
Sal: We were busier than usual today; I guess no one wants to cook in this heatwave.
Milo: *sigh* I guess.
Milo begins to walk towards the exit.
Sal: Ah, Milo!
Milo: *runs around* Yeah?
Sal walks up to Milo, handing him a $20 bill.
Sal: My wife and I had our daughter at a young age, and money was extremely tight. This is just an extra something to help you two kids get by.
Milo: *speechless* Oh, uhm– thank you, Sal. I really appreciate it.
Sal smiles and pats Milo on the shoulder. Milo walks out of the pizza parlor, sighing as the sun continues to beam down at 5 o’clock in the afternoon.
Milo has walked down this same block at the same time for the past couple of weeks after work. As tired and sweaty as he was, he always made it to his destination after every shift. Today, it was a little bit different.
Milo stops in front of the treehouse, looking up toward the entrance.
Milo: Gwen?
Gwen’s hand pokes out of the treehouse, looking down at Milo. He smiles at her. Gwen begins to climb down the ladder with her crossbody bag on her shoulder. Milo helps her reach the ground by ultimately lifting her from the ladder.
Gwen: *teases* You know I can still go up and down the ladder perfectly fine.
Gwen tussles his hair as Milo crunches his nose. She giggles at his response.
Gwen: How was work?
Milo: Just like any other day; hot, sticky, and too many dishes to clean.
Milo pulls out the twenty dollars from his pocket.
Milo: Sal gave me this after my shift today.
He puts it in Gwen’s crossbody bag.
Milo: I figured you keep it to get things you need–
Gwen: Milo–
Gwen takes out the cash and gives it back to Milo.
Gwen: You keep it.
Milo: But we should keep this for–
Gwen: I know, but you keep it. Put it in a jar or something and keep it for when we’ll need it.
Milo doesn’t know what to say. He simply puts the money back in his pocket. Gwen links her hand into Milo’s as they walk down the block with each other. Milo’s normal 9 to 5 included him and Gwen hanging out in the treehouse until it got too dark and Milo had to be home. Today was different, and his mind was somewhere else as they walked.
Gwen: You’re okay?
Milo: *snaps back* Yeah, why wouldn’t I be–
Gwen: Well, you haven’t said a word since we left my house. You’re usually this whole chatter box when we hang out.
At the stoplight, Milo sighs before looking at Gwen.
Milo: You’re not nervus about the doctors today?
Gwen: Today is just a normal Tuesday for me, Milo–
Milo: But this doctor’s visit… aren’t you nervous?
Gwen sighs, seeming annoyed with Milo.
Milo: Forget I asked–
Gwen: *softly* Hey.
She slightly squeezes his hand in hers, looking up at him while the stop light turns green to walk. They stand at the sidewalk, not moving.
Gwen: Of course I’m nervous. I have so many things running through my mind, but I can’t worry myself sick if I want the best possible outcome for this baby.
Milo: I don’t want you to always be the strong one in this, Gwen. You’re allowed to show nervousness. You’re allowed to feel things that you are actually feeling.
Gwen puts on a smile, shaking her head.
Gwen: I know I can.
Milo doesn’t seem convinced, but leaves it alone to cross the busy street.
…
By 6PM, the waiting room at the doctor’s office was winding down to the last few patients of the day. Milo felt his face getting hot, looking around the room of all the older women and men, excitingly waiting to get more information about their soon-to-be family. He feels like he and Gwen are the only two in here that aren’t that excited to be sitting here. Milo begins picking at his fingernails.
A woman walks out from the door leading to the office in the back. Milo’s eyes widen, recognizing who the doctor was; it was Jennifer’s Aunt Gabby.
Gabby: Gwen Messrow?
Gwen gets up from her seat and walks towards the door; Milo looks at Gabby as she looks at him. They all enter the doctor’s office: Gwen sits on top of the exam table as Milo sits in the seat next to her. He looks around the room full of different equipment and screens. Gabby closes the door behind her and sits down on a stoll.
Gabby: *shakes Gwen’s hand* I’m Dr. Perkins; it’s nice to meet you, Gwen.
Gwen: *nervous* Nice to meet you too.
Gabby: *looks at Milo* You must be dad.
Milo: *studders* Ye-yeah.
Gabby smiles, then brings her attention to Gwen.
Gabby: I know things like this are scary, especially being as young as you are; but just know that it’s such a blessing to bring another human being in his world and that you both decided it was what you wanted to do.
Gabby takes the medical file from her bin, flipping through the pages.
Gabby: Can you confirm your name and date of birth for me, please?
Gwen: Gwen Messrow, April 14th, 1992.
Gabby writes things own on the clipboard before setting it down.
Gabby: Thank you; I’m going to have you go to the restroom over here to change into a gown so that we can start with the check up.
Gwen nods her head and takes the gown. She walks out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Gabby: *sighs* Milo.
Milo: I know.
Gabby: Do your parents know you’re here?
Milo: *lies* Yeah.
Gabby: And they’re okay with this?
Milo: Yeah… I mean, there’s not much that they can do now–
Gabby doesn’t say anything else as Gwen walks back in with the gown on. She hands Milo her bag and her clothes.
Gabby: Okay Ms. Messrow; I’m going to give you this blanket to over up while we do the ultrasound.
Gwen nods her head, seeming nervous. Milo grabs a hold of her hand.
Milo: *whispers* Hey.
Gwen looks up at Milo.
Milo: Everything is going to be alright.
She smiles at Milo and looks at the screen in front of them. Gabby begins to put the gel on the device, pushing it against Gwen’s stomach.
Gabby: *looks at screen* Okay, and… there it is.
The screen shows a little speck; nothing resembling a human yet. Milo can’t get his eyes off the screen; he’s mesmerized by the tiny speck on the screen.
Gabby: Of course, there’s not much there to see, but that little thing in the center is your baby.
Gwen looks at the screen, then looks over to Milo. Milo’s eyes are glued to the sonagram. Gabby looks over at Milo before she turns back around, pressing a few buttons as she moves the device across Gwen’s stomach. After she’s done pressing buttons, the screen turns off and the device is removed.
Gabby hands Gwen some cleaning tissue to wipe the residue off her stomach.
Gabby: Everything looks pretty normal currently, but it’s still pretty early and are not definite once you’ve hit the 12 week mark.
Gwen nods her head, letting out a deep sigh.
Gwen: Am I considered high risk because of my cancer?
Milo quickly turned his head to look at Gwen, surprised by her blunt question. Gabby takes some time to answer.
Gabby: From an obstetrician’s side, we recommend that for the first trimester, you halt chemotherapy as the first 12 to 14 weeks are crucial to the development of the baby’s organ. While it’s not a common scenario many women go through, it’s not impossible to carry full term while battling your illness–
Milo: That doesn’t answer her question.
Gabby looks over at Milo intently.
Gabby: Yes, she is considered high risk.
Gabby gets up from her seat and gathers her paperwork. She then looks over at Gwen.
Gabby: As long as you’re taking care of yourself and being proactive with your doctor, everything should be fine. I’ll be back with some pictures and you two can be on your way.
Once Gabby leaves the room, Gwen gets up from the table and grabs her clothes from Milo. Milo senses that something isn’t right.
Milo: You’re okay?
Gwen: *looks down* I don’t know why I feel like this already.
Milo: Like what?
Gwen: Like I’m about to mourn the loss of this baby.
Milo gets up from his seat and walks over to Gwen. He takes her clothes and puts it on his seat in order to grab her by the hands.
Milo: You heard Ga-the doctor; everything is going to be fine if you just–
Gwen: Why though?
Milo: *confused* Why what?
Gwen: Why do I feel this way about something or someone I haven’t even met yet?
Milo pulls Gwen into a tight hug, reassuring her.
Milo: It’s okay to feel that way. You’re not wrong feeling the way you do.
Gwen looks up at Milo and smiles.
Gwen: Do you feel the same way?
Milo hesitates until his cellphone rings in his pocket. He looks at his Sidekick and notices his Jennifer messaging him.
xXr3dhotchillip3pp3rXx: Emergency band meeting in the garage! Be there by 8PM
Milo: Fuck.
Gwen: Is everything okay?
Milo: Yeah, it’s my mom… she’s looking for me.
Milo grabs his things and looks at Gwen.
Milo: You’ll be fine getting home on your own?
Gwen: *nervous* I mean… I should be…
Milo feels uneasy at Gwen’s answer and sighs.
Milo: C’mon, I’ll walk you home.
Gwen: I don’t want you to get in trouble with your mom–
Milo: It’s fine, I can tell her the buses were running late or something.
Milo smiles at Gwen to be assuring. Gwen sighs.
Gwen: *smiles* Okay.
Letters From Liz. 