Martha's mother, Gertrude, yelled, "MARTHA, HOW COULD YOU BE SO IRRESPONSIBLE? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!!"
Her father, Rodolfo Castella, spoke, "We just found out from your school counselor that you're pregnant! Is this true?"
Martha looks down at her trembling hands, unable to meet her parents' gaze.
"Yes, I... I'm pregnant." Martha sheds a tear.
Gertrude's face contorts with rage, and she swiftly raises her hand, delivering a resounding slap across Martha's cheek. Martha's head jerks to the side, and tears well up in her eyes.
Rodolfo steps forward, his voice filled with disappointment and disbelief.
Gertrude yelled her throat out, "How could you let this happen, Martha? You're only 15 years old! We trusted you! YOU ADD UP TO ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS, OUR MONEY US GONE! WE SPENT ALL OUR MONEY FOR YOUR SISTER, MARIA'S CANCER TREATMENT BUT SHE DIES AND NOW YOUR STUPID PREGNANT BELLY IS MAKING US LOSE OUR MONEY EVEN MORE!
Gertrude, her eyes still burning with anger, raises her hand once again, but this time, Rodolfo grasps her arm, stopping her from striking Martha again.
"That's enough, Gertrude. Violence won't solve anything."
Gertrude glares at her husband, still seething with anger.
"But Rodolfo, she needs to understand the consequences of her actions!"
Rodolfo takes a deep breath, attempting to calm himself before addressing Martha.
"Martha, we're deeply disappointed in you. This situation will bring many challenges, and it's not what we had hoped for your future. But we need to find a way to move forward."
Martha, tears streaming down her face, chokes back a sob.
"I'm sorry, Mom and Dad. I didn't mean for this to happen."
"YOU DON'T MEAN FOR THIS TO HAPPEN?! SHUT YOUR MOUTH, YOU AND ALFREDO ARE BOTH TOO YOUNG! HE ALSO IMPREGNATED ANOTHER GIRL NAMED MIRACLE AND YOU ARE THE SAME AGE AS HIM! HOW BOTH OF YOU ARE DISGRACEFUL!"
Gertrude tried to catch her breath, and laid a finger at Martha, "WHO IS THE FATHER?!"
Martha sheds tears, unable to speak, she flinched when her mother yelled again, "WHO IS THE FATHER?!"
Martha sniffles, "R...Robert"
"YOU ARE FUCKING DISGUSTING! I WILL NEVER EVER FORGIVE YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID! YOUR FATHER AND I WORKED SO HARD AT THE FARM AND THIS IS WHAT WE GET?!" Gertrude sat down on the couch, her eyes continuously welled up with tears knowing all her hardwork has gone to waste.
Rodolfo tried to remain calm as he understood that being violent does not help with anything, "I want to talk to Robert about this, he needs to marry you right away!"
Martha's teenage pregnancy was a difficult time for her, but it ultimately led to her getting married to Robert at 15.
Despite the challenges they faced, the couple was determined to make their marriage work and build a life together.
On a cold and dreary day, Martha and Robert were married in a small, unadorned chapel.
The ceremony was brief and uninspiring, with no music or decorations to set the mood.
The couple exchanged simple vows, and the officiant declared them husband and wife.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their small group of guests gathered for a reception in a nearby park.
YOU ARE READING
Unspoken Desires
General FictionCheska, a girl whose heart bore the weight of abandonment, had carried the scars of her past with her throughout her life. The wounds ran deep, originating from the neglect she had endured at the hands of her parents. Their absence had left her with...
