The Struggle

A week had passed since Sylvia had come to Maine, she had settled into her classroom in no time and her students, especially the younger ones, were eager to learn about their teacher’s adventures before they started their lessons each morning. Sadie enjoyed having her best friend under her roof again, it was just like when they were little girls, but Sadie knew that Sylvia was still heartbroken over Phillip and she tried everything to cheer her up, but so far nothing was working. It was almost time for supper, so Sylvia was changing out of her newly tailored grey teaching dress into her favorite blue dress as she slowly smooths the fabric after putting it on as she tries to hide the result of one forbidden night of passion. A knock at the door tore her from the thoughts and Sylvia quickly removed her hand from her stomach, for she wanted to keep her secret for a little while longer. As Sylvia finished putting her hair into a braid down to the middle of her back, the young woman quickly opened the door and stepped over the threshold in order to greet Sadie before the two women head to the dining room where Paul is waiting at the table to help the ladies. Sadie smiled at her husband as he sat in the parlour later that evening with his left hand entertwined in hers as he told her about the puppies that their nearest neighbors were selling and possibly purchasing one. Paul didn’t even have to look at his wife to get her answer for he already knew what she would say due to her uncharacteristic high pitched short squeal. The young man laughed softly before bringing his wife’s hand up to his lips and brushing a chaste kiss across her delicate knuckles. Sylvia retired to her room shortly after Sadie and Paul left to look at the puppies, her best friend’s smile lighting up the room as the couple made their way to the wagon. Sylvia changed into her favorite dark green nightgown before putting her hair into a bun with the braid still intact. As she was getting ready for bed, Sylvia’s left hand went to her stomach for a moment as tears slowly fell onto her cheeks when her child softly let its presence known to its unmarried mother for the first time. Sylvia longed to write to Phillip and tell him that she was with child, but he had already made his choice. Sylvia went to bed that evening with her hand still on her stomach and a plan in place with how to share the news that the young woman knew without a shadow of a doubt would tear Sadie apart.