2 Lines

Chapter 12 - A Heartbreak in the Making

As the weeks passed and I entered my third month of pregnancy, I felt as if my emotions were on a wild pendulum swing. Some days, I'd wake up feeling surprisingly optimistic, believing I could navigate this new life, tackle school, and maybe even find a way to get along with Justin. Other days, I felt overwhelmed, like I was standing at the edge of a cliff, ready to tumble into an abyss of uncertainty.

It was one of those good days—at least, I thought it was—when everything came crashing down.

The sun was shining, and I had just finished my last class of the day. I was excited to grab a snack from my locker and then meet up with Tara. She'd been a great support, and today, we had planned to go for a walk and talk about everything. I needed that break from my thoughts.

As I rounded the corner to the school courtyard, I caught sight of Tara sitting on a bench, scrolling through her phone. Just as I was about to wave, something caught my eye, and my heart dropped.

Justin was there, too. But he wasn't alone.

He was with another girl—a blonde girl who looked like she belonged in one of those popular groups, someone who was everything I wasn't. I froze, my heart pounding loudly in my ears as I watched them together. They were standing close, their bodies angled toward each other, sharing a private laugh.

My stomach twisted as I tried to convince myself it was nothing, that maybe they were just friends hanging out after school. But then Justin leaned in, and my breath caught in my throat as he kissed her. It was soft, sweet, and entirely too intimate.

The world around me faded away. The laughter of students, the chatter of friends—everything went silent except for the rush of blood in my ears. My heart felt like it was shattering, the pieces slicing through me as I stood there, rooted to the spot.

I wanted to look away, to walk back inside and pretend I hadn't seen anything. But I was glued to the scene unfolding before me. The way Justin smiled at her, how he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear—it was everything I had wanted, everything I had hoped for when I thought of him as a father. And it crushed me.

Without thinking, I turned and walked away, my feet moving on autopilot. I didn't even register the fact that Tara was still at the bench until I heard her calling after me.

"Mia! Hey, wait up!"

I didn't stop. I couldn't. I had to get away from that moment, away from the sight of Justin being so effortlessly happy with someone else. A part of me felt like it was clawing its way to the surface, screaming for him to notice me, to acknowledge that I existed. But the bigger part of me was sinking, spiraling into a pit of despair.

I made my way to the nearest bathroom, pushing open the door and locking myself inside a stall. I leaned against the cool metal, willing myself to breathe.

The tears came hot and fast, streaming down my cheeks. I had never felt so betrayed, so small. The anger bubbled up inside me, mixing with the hurt and shame. Why hadn't I seen this coming? Why had I ever thought Justin could be the kind of person I needed him to be?

I pulled out my phone, staring at the screen, contemplating whether to text Tara. But all I could muster was a shaky breath, and I decided against it. I didn't want to talk to anyone right now. I needed to process this on my own.

After a few minutes, I finally got control over my breathing and wiped my eyes. I took one last deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart, and stepped out of the stall. As I splashed cold water on my face, I looked at my reflection, and for a moment, I didn't recognize the girl staring back at me.

I felt so lost.

I exited the bathroom and found Tara waiting outside, concern etched on her face. "Mia, what's wrong? I saw you running. Are you okay?"

I couldn't find the words. All I could do was shake my head, the memories of Justin and that girl flooding back into my mind.

Tara must have seen something in my eyes because she stepped closer, her voice lowering. "Did you see something? You can tell me. Whatever it is, I'm here for you."

I took a shaky breath, steeling myself. "I saw Justin... with another girl."

Tara's eyes widened, and she reached for my arm, squeezing it gently. "What do you mean? Like a friend?"

I nodded, feeling the lump in my throat return. "No, not just a friend. They were kissing, Tara. Like it was nothing."

Her face fell, and I could see the mix of anger and sympathy washing over her. "Mia, I'm so sorry. That's... that's awful."

I didn't respond, the reality of the moment crashing over me like a wave. "I thought... I thought he might step up. I thought maybe he'd at least try to be there for me and the baby, but he's just—"

"He's just a jerk," Tara interrupted, her voice firm. "You deserve so much better than this."

I forced a small smile, appreciating her support, but the pain still ached in my chest. "But it hurts. It hurts to see him with someone else like that."

Tara nodded, her expression softening. "Of course it does. It's completely normal to feel this way. But you have to remember, Mia, you're going to be a mom. You're strong enough to get through this, even if it feels impossible right now."

I took a deep breath, grateful for her words. "I just... I need to figure out how to move on. I can't let him drag me down."

Tara gave me a small smile, the encouragement lighting a spark in my heart. "You're right. You're worth so much more than what he can give you. Focus on yourself and the baby. You've got this."

As I walked home that day, I kept replaying the scene of Justin kissing that girl in my head, but with every step, I felt a little lighter. Maybe it was time to accept that Justin wasn't the person I had hoped he would be. Maybe it was time to let him go.

My heart still ached, but I reminded myself that I was stronger than I felt. I had a life to build, a baby to care for, and a future that was waiting for me. And no matter how much it hurt, I was going to keep moving forward.