The hospital was either too cold or too hot, she could never remember which. As promised, Holly held her hand as a sequence of nurses took her vitals, tutted over the fact that she was obviously a junkie, and sutured the cut on her temple. They were all jolly enough and did their best to cheer her up.

The last of the colour drained from Holly when she read the badge of the doctor who had just arrived at Olivia’s bedside.
“Olivia?” His manner was calm and surprisingly free of judgement. “Olivia, can you hear me?”
“Yeah.” She was a little stronger now and seemed to have regained the power of speech.
“Did you know that you were pregnant?”
“Oh God.”
He nodded.
“Oh God oh God oh God oh God oh God no no no no no. Please no.”
“I’m sorry. I’m pretty sure the bleeding will settle in the next day or two – I’m finding a bed for you at the moment – but I’m afraid you’ve lost the baby.”
“Oh God. Not again.” She clutched at Holly and dissolved, tears spilling down in a tide she swore would never end. “Never again.”