The Lie(2)

Aria's POV

Selene looked at me for quite some time, she opened her mouth to speak severally but all those times, she failed and no word came out of her mouth.

I could feel her confusion, her nervousness and a degree of suspicion that had settled in her eyes. Finally, she said, in a very low, sort of timid, voice, “Aria, who was the father?”

My stomach twisted. I took deep breaths , trying to keep a calm mind but my mind was soaring. I would have sworn that I could hear my heart thumping in my ears. When her phone rang I opened my mouth and could not say anything when she looked at it. "It's Lyra. I'll just--"

“Take it,” I said to her , hoping she would go away and leave me to myself a few minutes.

After hesitation, she nodded and left the room and the silence of the room was thrust upon me.

I looked at the doctor. "How-how?"

He looked up in his books and said, “I will tell you about six weeks.” He replied and answered the question in spite of the fact that I could not complete it.

My breath caught. Six weeks. Six weeks ago I had slept with Lupin. My heart sank and my palms were soaked with sweat and I tried to keep a noncommittal face. There was no going back. I should not, could not say his name.

"Are you good?" The doctor asked and I nodded.

He left the room without another word.

Before I could utter another word Selene returned, and closed the door behind her. "Sorry about that.... whose baby is it Aria? Ronan?”

My throat was parched, I swallowed with difficulty. I could not say that to her--not Ronan but Lupin. Not now. Not once, could I have desired to shatter everything to bits. I shook my head and smiled meekly.

Her eyes widened. "What? Are you sure?"

"I... I must be, I said in a voice which could not be heard. "Doctor said at least, 10 weeks."

Selene's face fell. "Damn! We need to tell the adults. We have to tell someone. Your mother, maybe, somebody to figure this out.”

I said nothing yet I could feel the weight of my lie sinking on me.

"Is it okay for me to go home?" I asked.

“I will just go meet the doctor and ask him whether you can go.” Selene said and left the room.

She returned a few minutes later with the doctor who examined me one more time and then discharged me.

There was a silence on the ride home, complete with a sort of tension that was indescribable. A sense of the weight of the secret pressing upon me fell on me as we entered the house.

Lyra and her mother were the first people we saw as we stepped in. "How are you dear?" Her question was full of concern.

"I'm fine." I managed to reply.

"Aria told me...." She mumbled as I took my seat.

I could only give her a small smile as I was curious who would come next.

The next to hear was Ronan. The mother of Selene resolved to tell him the news. "Ronan, trust you are good."

"I'm good mom, what happened?" He asked.

Elowen paused a moment and then sighed. "You're going to be a father. Aria's... carrying your baby ." She wasted no time, beating around the bush.

The silence was so lengthy along the line, and then Ronan sighed sharply. "I'll book the next flight back home."

The next call was to my mother. I heard her harsh voice instantly, and she was already about to warn me. "Aria? What happened?"

I didn't speak. Selene answered her, slowly explaining to her how it all happened.

My mother reacted promptly and harshly. “I am getting the next flight, I said. "You listen to me, Aria. You will not make a disgrace of yourself and my family . You will marry him. I warned you about this. Keep out of the way of Pre-marital sex--do you remember I told you? You cannot be careless."

I opened my mouth, to protest, but she had gone on before I could speak.

“You ought to be thinking of your future, of your reputation and this child your carelessness brought about. You will do as I say. You are going to be married to Ronan who is the father.

I felt tight in the chest, my head circling. I tried to speak. "Mom... I--"

"No arguments!" she snapped. No mistakes of this kind would be treated lightly by me. You should have known what would come since you decided to not listen to my word.”

My hands were clasped to my sides and I choked. "But you don't understand..."

“I understand everything, Aria. You need discipline. You need guidance. And you will do as I say." She cut me off rudely.

My heart raced. I opened my mouth again, and tried to say something that would make her understand, and that Ronan was not the father, it was Lupin. But the words got in my throat. I couldn't say them. Not now. Not ever.

"I..."

"Enough," she interrupted. "You will marry him. That's final."

I sat on the nearest chair, captive, overwhelmed with all my choices I made in the past several weeks. The lie was bigger than I was now, and the consequences were all round me now.

“Take her to her room.” Elowen said and Selene nodded, holding my hand as she walked me to my room, quietly.

“Do you need anything?” She asked but I nodded in reply, after some time, she left me all alone.

Finally, I said to myself, and with little or no audibility: I have no choice... I must marry him.

And then, almost, the second thought followed, and still more difficult, But how can I marry a man, and carry his father’s child in my womb?

What will be the consequences of the revelation?

"Aria... are you inside?"