The young woman was now hitting the man she was with. I could not make out anything they were saying. There was a small crowd gathering and we were blocking traffic. Cars started honking impatiently. I nodded at the man, who had taken my hand and was guiding me out of the crowd. A police siren edged closer, scaring the couple. The girl went hysterical when she saw me.

You fucking piece of shit! Look what you did! She’s pregnant, you fucking idiot!

Then she ran towards me. Her eyes were completely glazed. She was obviously high.

Are you okay? So sorry…are you all right?

I sat down on the pavement. My elbow throbbed. I could not turn my head to the left. My neck felt sprained. There were police, faces peering at me. An ambulance. Then Omar. His crazed eyes. Being lifted onto a stretcher, oxygen. Hospital doors. Lights. Darkness.

When I woke up again, I saw Papa and Omar on either side of the bed. Sumi almost tripped coming through the door.

She’s awake! Then a furtive kiss from Omar. Papa grabbed my hand. Sumi squeezed my other hand until it hurt.

The baby’s fine, she’s fine. Not a scratch, no distress at all.

Papa shrank into his chair. He hated hospitals. His face was pale with fright. Another car crash. Sumi took him home after the doctor came and said that I could leave the next day. Then it was just me and Omar. I didn’t know what he was going to say. His back was to me and when he turned, his face was contorted with pain.

Del, when I got that call, I punched a wall. I know it wasn’t your fault, but why? Why, for god’s sake, did you go out? The baby is two weeks away, what were you thinking?

He was a mess. I sighed. I didn’t feel like saying anything because there was nothing to say. It was a senseless accident. The car was hit by a teenage boy, off his head, high as an elephant on ketamine. It was not my fault. But Omar needed to rant.

I want to wring his fucking neck! I could kill that little shit!

Omar, calm down.

Del, I can’t lose you. This accident made me realise that you, this baby, you’re everything to me. My life. All that I live for. I mean, I know, but the thought of losing you now, like this. I can’t. I can’t.

Strangely, I felt calm. I had to be the strong one then. He climbed up onto my bed and I held him, he clung to me, like a terrified child. The baby started kicking, and Omar placed his hands over my belly.