Chapter 5

Andrea’s Point of View

It has been two months since the night I met my mate...

Two months since I found him with another girl.

Two months since he told me that sleeping with me had been nothing more than an experience he wanted to try.

And now, here I am, sitting on my bed with my mother and Lizzy next to me, staring at the timer on my phone.

Nobody says anything and the silence is tense.

My knee bounces nervously as I stare at the screen.

“Time won't go by faster the longer you stare at it, you know that right?”

Lizzy asks, giving me a small teasing smile as she tries to ease the tension..

I swallow hard.

“I know... I just... I don't know what else to do. I'm sorry you have to sit here as well.”

I say. My mother reaches over and takes my hand, shaking her head.

“Nonsense. It's okay. We're happy to sit here and wait with you.”

She says and Lizzy nods her head.

I squeeze her hand and we continue to wait in silence.

Lizzy glances at the timer.

“How much longer? I can't see.”

She says and I look at it again, swallowing nervously before answering her.

“Thirty seconds.”

She lets out a nervous breath.

“Those thirty seconds feel like thirty years.”

She mutters and I manage a tiny, humorless laugh.

“Tell me about it.”

I murmur.

My eyes return to the screen.

Twenty seconds.

Fifteen.

Ten.

My heart begin to pound harder with every second that pass by.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

The timer goes off.

And I freeze, staring at my phone, unable to get myself to move.

“Andrea... It's time.”

Mom says softly but I shake my head.

“I don't think I can do this.”

“Yes, you can.”

“What if it's positive?”

I ask, my voice trembling slightly.

My mother squeezes my hand.

“Then we'll deal with it together.”

She says, giving me a small smile.

I take a shaky breath and nod my head.

“Okay.”

I slowly stand.

My legs feel like they're barely holding me up as I make my way towards the bathroom counter.

The pregnancy test is sitting exactly where I left it.

I stop and stare at it.

I don't want to pick it up.

I don't want to know.

But I reach for it anyway.

I close my eyes for a second before taking a deep breath and lifting it.

I look down.

Two lines.

My breath catches.

"What does it say?"

Lizzy suddenly asks behind me.

I look over my shoulder to see my mother and Lizzy both nervously waiting for the result.

"It's positive."

I whisper in a broken voice, bringing my hand up to my mouth before a sob rips right out of my chest before I can stop it.

"Are you sure?"

Lizzy asks and I nod my head, holding the test out to them.

“Yes.”

“Oh, baby.”

My mother immediately rushes to me and Lizzy follows her, both of them wrapping their arms around me.

“Oh, honey…”

She pulls me tighter against her chest and I bury my face against her shoulder as another sob escapes me.

“I'm so sorry, but everything will be okay.”

She says softly.

“How?”

I ask, pulling back slightly, with tears streaming down my cheeks. I feel Lizzy letting go of us.

“How is any of this going to be okay? He slept with me, rejected me, and now I'm pregnant.”

I say, my voice cracking.

My mother's expression cracks and she pulls me back into her arms.

“Shhh, baby girl. It's okay. I've got you.”

She says, her hand gently stroking my hair.

“We've got you.”

Lizzy adds quietly as she wraps her arms around us again.

I close my eyes and let myself cry.

I don't know how long we stay like that, but eventually, my sobs quiet down, and I take a shaky breath.

Mom pulls away slightly and looks at me.

“Are you feeling better?”

She asks softly.

I wipe under my eyes and I slowly nod my head.

“Yeah…”

I take a deep breath.

“I'm okay now. Thank you.”

I say and she gives me a small smile.

“Always.”

We all make our way back to my room and we sit back down on my bed.

For a moment, nobody says anything.

Then Lizzy looks at me.

“So… what are you going to do?”

She asks and I glance at her.

“What do you mean?”

“Are you going to keep the baby?”

She asks softly.

I look down at my hands as her question repeats itself in my head.

My mind immediately fills with questions.

Fear.

Uncertainty.

Everything feels like too much.

But underneath all of it, there's something else.

A tiny feeling that I can't quite explain.

Eventually I take another deep breath before I slowly nod my head.

“I think so.”

I say quietly and Mom studies my face for a few seconds.

“Are you sure? There are options if you aren't ready or sure about this, Andrea.”

She says quietly and I nod my head again.

“I know.”

My throat tightens.

“I just… I don't think I'll be able to live with myself if I don't keep my baby.”

I say quietly, shrugging.

Mom reaches over and squeezes my hand.

“Well, this is your decision, and whatever you decide, we will support you.”

She says, looking me directly in the eyes and Lizzy nods.

“She's right. Of course we will. You are not alone in this."

She adds, giving me a small smile.

I look between them and my eyes begin to sting again.

“Thank you. Both of you.”

I say and my mother smiles gently at me.

“You don't have to thank us.”

She says, squeezing my hand.

"Oh! We should make an appointment with the doctor."

My mother says and I nod my head.

"Yes, I guess we should... But for now... Would you both mind leaving? Please, I just want to be alone with this for a while."

They both look at me.

“I just want some time to think.”

I glance toward my bed.

“And maybe get some rest.”

They both hesitate for a bit before my mother reluctantly nods her head.

“Yeah, of course. I think taking a nap would do you good. I'll come get you when dinner is ready."

She says and I slowly nod.

"Thank you..."

Lizzy stands and gives me a quick hug.

"I'll stop by the doctor's on my way home and make an appointment for you. First thing tomorrow morning. Okay?"

She says.

I nod my head, giving both of them a small smile.

“Just let us know if you need anything. I'm only a phone call away.

Lizzy says and I nod my head again.

“I will.”

Mom kisses the top of my head before before I lay down on my bed with my back turned to them.

I hear the door close and I sigh, turning back onto back as the silence returns

For a few seconds, I just stare up at the ceiling.

Then my hand slowly moves down to my stomach.

It's still completely flat.

There's nothing I can feel.

Nothing I can see.

And yet…

My baby is there.

My throat tightens, and tears sting my eyes again.

I gently rub my stomach.

"Hi little bean. I'm your mommy. I'm sorry about your daddy, but we'll be fine. Mommy will love you and take care of you. I promise."

My voice cracks and I take a deep breath.

"We'll be okay..."

I murmur, my voice coming out as a whisper.

“We don't need him, right?”

I swallow the lump in my throat.

“We'll get through this.”

I close my eyes, my hand still resting protectively over my stomach.

“It'll be just you and me and that's okay.... Right?”