Chapter 6

***Luna's POV***

"...What were you doing at the hospital?" Mom's panicked voice burst through the phone, making me wince.

I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead. Of all the ways for this conversation to start, this was the one I had feared the most.

"Mom, calm down," I said softly. "I'll explain everything when I come over for dinner tonight."

A long sigh came from the other end of the line.

"You really know how to raise my blood pressure, Luna." she said.

Despite everything weighing on my chest, a small smile tugged at my lips.

"I'm sorry." I said.

"You better come early." she warned.

"I will. Love you, Mom." I replied.

"Love you too, Luna." she said.

Then, the call ended.

I slowly lowered my phone and stared blankly at the wall in front of me.

The smile disappeared instantly. My stomach twisted into painful knots.

How was I supposed to tell them?

How was I supposed to sit across from my parents and tell them that their daughter was pregnant?

Not only pregnant, but pregnant by a man whose identity I didn't even know.

The shame of it pressed heavily against my chest.

I sank onto my couch and covered my face with both hands.

Everything had happened so fast.

Only this morning, I had been lying on a hospital bed, ready to end the pregnancy.

Ready to make everything disappear.

Ready to pretend none of this had ever happened.

The memory returned vividly. The cold hospital room. The sharp smell of antiseptic. The bright lights above my head. The doctor preparing the injection.

Everything had been moving exactly as planned. I had convinced myself it was the right decision.

I had repeated it so many times that I almost believed it.

Then something changed. Just when the doctor was about to inject me, panic flooded my body.

Not fear for myself, but for the tiny life growing inside me.

I couldn't explain it, I couldn't understand it but suddenly, the thought of ending the pregnancy felt unbearable.

I had stopped the doctor immediately.

The shock on her face still lingered in my memory.

For a few minutes afterward, doubt had consumed me. I wondered if I had made a terrible mistake, I wondered if I was ruining my future, I wondered if I was being selfish.

But the more I thought about it, the more certain I became.

This baby had done nothing wrong.

None of this was the baby's fault.

Maybe I didn't know who the father was. Maybe my life was a mess. Maybe people would judge me.

But I was still this child's mother.

And as long as I was breathing, I would protect my baby.

A tear slid down my cheek, I gently placed my hand on my flat stomach.

"You have me," I whispered.

The words felt small. But I meant every single one of them.

No matter what happened, no matter who turned their backs on me.

I would not abandon my child.

By the time I arrived at my parents' house in the evening, my nerves were completely out of control.

My heart pounded so hard it felt painful.

Each step toward the front door felt heavier than the last.

I stood outside for several seconds before finally forcing myself to knock.

The door opened.. Dad smiled when he saw me.

For a moment, guilt stabbed through my chest.

I wondered if that smile would disappear after tonight.

I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him. He hugged me back immediately.

When he pulled away, his brows furrowed.

"You've lost weight." he said.

I forced a laugh.

"I'm okay." I replied.

"No, you haven't been eating properly." he said.

"I'm fine, Dad." I replied.

He looked unconvinced but didn't push further.

Together we walked into the house.

The familiar scent of Mom's favorite perfume greeted me immediately.

Everything looked exactly the same.

The family photographs, the old decorations, the olive-green couch that had been in this house for longer than I could remember.

Normally, being here comforted me.

But tonight, it only made me feel worse.

Dad motioned for me to sit and I obeyed.

Trying to hide my trembling hands, I folded them tightly in my lap.

Dad settled beside me.

For several minutes, he spoke casually about work and school.

I answered mechanically, because my mind was elsewhere.

The secret sitting between us felt enormous.

Every second that passed made it harder to breathe.

"How are your classes?" Dad asked.

"They're good." I replied.

"Still keeping up your grades?" he asked.

"Yes." I replied.

"Good." he smiled.

I nodded. My palms had become sweaty.

Without realizing it, I started rubbing my left hand repeatedly against my jeans.

Dad immediately noticed and his eyes narrowed.

"What's wrong with your hand?" he asked.

I froze. "Nothing." I replied.

"It looks like you're nervous." he said.

"I'm not." I replied.

The lie sounded weak even to my own ears. Thankfully, before he could question me further, Mom entered the living room carrying a tray filled with juice and cookies.

The sight of my favorite chocolate chip cookies almost made me cry.

Normally, I would have grabbed three before sitting down.

Tonight, the smell alone made my stomach churn, I felt a strong vibration in my stomach.

Mom placed the tray on the coffee table.

Then she sat down directly across from me.

The moment our eyes met, I knew she hadn't forgotten our phone conversation.

Not even a little.

"So," she said carefully. "Tell me why you were at the hospital."

I nearly choked on my own saliva.

Dad turned toward me immediately.

"You went to the hospital?" are you sick or something? he asked worriedly.

I shot Mom a look, but she offered no rescue.

My pulse skyrocketed.

This was it.

There was no escaping anymore, so. I swallowed hard.

"I went for a checkup." I dropped the bombshell.

Mom frowned.

"What kind of checkup?" she asked.

The room suddenly felt unbearably hot.

My throat tightened, every word became trapped.

Say it...

Just say it...

The longer you wait, the worse it gets... My mind schooled me.

Then i took a shaky breath.

"Before I tell you..." My voice wavered. "I need you both to know that I never meant for this to happen." I said.

Mom's face immediately filled with concern.

"Honey, you're scaring us." she said.

Dad sat straighter.

"Luna, what is it?" he asked.

I felt tears burn behind my eyes.

Then the words finally escaped.

"I'm pregnant."

Silence.. Silence... Silence...

The entire room went silent, neither of them moved, neither of them spoke.

For a moment, it felt as though time had stopped completely.

Mom blinked first.

Then again.

And again..

"What?" she asked.

"I'm pregnant." I repeated.

The color drained from her face.

"You... you're pregnant?" she asked again, in disbelief.

I nodded.

Her hand flew to her mouth.

"When?"

"How?"

Then came the question I had dreaded.

"Whose baby is it?" she asked.

I lowered my eyes, I couldn't say anything because I had no idea who I slept with.

Immediately, Mom jumped to a conclusion.

"Does Carol know?" she asked.

I shook my head.

"Mom, Carol isn't the father." I said.

The silence that followed felt even worse.

Confusion filled her face.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"He isn't involved." I replied.

"But he was your boyfriend." she said.

"I know." I replied.

"Luna..." she called.

I closed my eyes briefly, then I forced myself to say the truth.

"I don't know who the father is."

The words shattered whatever hope remained in the room.

Mom gasped loudly. Her face twisted with disbelief.

"What are you saying?" she yelled.

Tears filled my eyes.

"It's complicated." I sobbed.

"You slept with someone else?" she spat.

"It wasn't like that." I said.

"Then explain" she yelled.

"He cheated on me," I whispered.

Mom stared at me. The information seemed to hit her all at once.

She began pacing around the room.

One of her hand gripped her forehead, the other rested on her chest.

"Oh God..." she sighed.

Only then did I remember Dad was still sitting beside me.

He hadn't said a word, not one word.

Slowly, I turned toward him.

His expression frightened me, his face had become hard. Colder than I had ever seen it.

The disappointment in his eyes nearly broke me.

Then he finally spoke.

"Abort it." he said.

The single command hit me like a slap.

My breath caught.

"Dad..." I called.

"Abort the child." he repeated.

"I can't." I whispered.

His jaw tightened.

"Why?" he barked.

I flinched.

"Why would you keep a stranger's child?" he asked.

Tears rolled down my cheeks.

"I just can't." I sobbed.

His expression darkened further.

"Do you understand what you've done?" he asked.

I stared at him helplessly.

"I never meant.. " I tried to say.

"You have humiliated this family." he cut me off immediately.

The words cut deeper than anything else. My mouth fell open.

"Dad..." I cried.

"I thought I raised you better." he hissed.

Pain exploded inside my chest.

"No, No, Dad." it's not what you think, I begged.

"You proved me wrong." he replied.

I shook my head desperately.

"This wasn't intentional, I did not mean for this to happen, I said.

He stood abruptly.

The force of his movement made me jump.

"Then fix it." he said. His voice thundered through the room.

"Get rid of the child." he ordered.

My hands instinctively moved to my stomach.

Protective.

Defensive.

"I won't." I said.

The words came out stronger than I expected.

His eyes widened and mom stared at me.

"I won't abort my baby." I said.

"Luna" Mom cried.

You don't understand what this means," do you? She asked.

"I do." I replied.

The argument escalated rapidly.

Voices rose, tears fell, pain echoed from every corner of the room.

Then Dad said something that shattered me completely.

"Our names will be ruined because of this child." he said.

I stared at him.

Unable to believe what I had heard.

"So that's all you care about?" I asked.

The moment the words left my mouth, regret followed.

Mom gasped, Dad's face hardened even more.

"Luna." he called.

But I couldn't stop, I was hurt, I was scared and I felt completely alone.

"I need you." I said.

Dad's expression remained unchanged.

"I need my parents." I repeated.

But his silence hurt more than yelling ever could.

I wiped my tears. Then I spoke the truth.

"I already went for an abortion." I said.

Both of them froze.

"But I couldn't do it, i chose my baby." I added as i looked down at my stomach

The room fell silent again.

Then Dad spoke, his voice was colder than ice.

"If you keep this child, you are no longer our daughter." he said.

The words stole every ounce of air from my lungs. Mom immediately turned toward him

"Harris" she called.

But he didn't take them back. I looked from one parent to the other. My vision blurred with tears.

Part of me wanted to give in, part of me wanted to beg, part of me wanted to make everything right.

But when I thought about the tiny life inside me, I couldn't. I simply couldn't.

So I stood. My legs trembled, My heart shattered but I just stood.

"I'll go." I said.

Mom burst into tears but dad remained silent.

I looked at them both one last time.

My family, the people I loved most in the world.

"I'm sorry." I said. My voice broke completely.

"I'm so sorry." I repeated.

Dad looked away. "I don't want your apology."

The finality in his voice destroyed whatever hope remained.

"Leave." he yelled.

And so I did. I turned and walked out the front door.

The moment I stepped outside, I began running. The cool evening air struck my face.

My tears flowed endlessly. I ran past houses, Past streets, Past curious neighbors.

I didn't care where I was going, I just needed to get away.

Away from the disappointment.

Away from the pain.

Away from the sound of my father's voice.

Eventually, my legs gave out and I stopped. I was breathing hard and

crying uncontrollably...

The sky above had grown dark.

Streetlights flickered around me.

Everything felt empty.

Everything felt broken.

I wrapped my arms around myself and stood alone beneath the night sky.

For the first time in my life, I had nowhere to go.

But despite the pain, despite the heartbreak, despite losing the people I loved most.

One thing remained certain.

I pressed a trembling hand against my stomach and silently promised my baby once again.

No matter what happened next, I would never abandon my child.

To be Continued.....