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Chapter 23 - A New Beginning

The weight of my decision hung heavy over the next few days. Cutting Justin out for good wasn't something I had planned to do—it wasn't something I thought I'd ever have the strength for—but after that confrontation, there was no going back. He had made his choices, and I had to make mine. Rebecca came first now. Always.

The school week dragged on, a blur of whispers and stares, but I didn't care anymore. Everyone had an opinion about my life, about Justin, about me. They could think what they wanted—I was done trying to prove anything to anyone.

At lunch, Tara and Ethan sat with me as usual, but there was a sense of something shifting between us. They were walking on eggshells, waiting for me to break down or lose it after what happened with Justin. But the breakdown never came.

"So," Ethan said carefully, taking a bite of his sandwich, "how're you holding up?"

I glanced up at him and then at Tara, whose worried eyes were practically boring into me. "I'm okay," I said, and it wasn't a lie. "Honestly, I feel... better. Like I'm finally free of all the drama."

Tara's eyebrows shot up. "Better? After everything Justin said?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Because now I know the truth. I don't have to keep wondering if he's going to change or if he's actually going to show up for Rebecca. He's not. And I don't have to waste any more energy on him."

Tara leaned forward, concern still on her face. "But Mia, aren't you scared? I mean, it's going to be harder without him, especially once the baby's here."

"Maybe," I admitted, "but I think it'd be harder with him pretending to be something he's not. He would just drag us down."

Ethan let out a low whistle. "Damn, girl. You're way stronger than me. If I were you, I'd be throwing a chair at his head."

Tara giggled at the thought, and I couldn't help but smile. "Trust me, it crossed my mind."

They both laughed, the tension around us easing for the first time in days. I knew they were worried about me, but they didn't have to be. I had made my decision. I was done letting Justin dictate how I felt. I was done feeling small, done feeling like I wasn't in control of my own life.

That weekend, I decided to make a fresh start. I had been holding on to too many things that reminded me of Justin—old texts, photos, memories of who I thought he was. It was time to let them go.

I sat in my room, scrolling through my phone, deleting every text message thread, every picture we'd ever taken together. It felt strange at first, like erasing pieces of the past, but the more I deleted, the lighter I felt.

Next, I went through my closet and pulled out anything that reminded me of him—the hoodie he'd left at my house, the dumb bracelet he'd bought me at some random fair. I shoved it all into a bag and tossed it in the back of my closet. It wasn't like I wanted to burn everything in a rage; I just didn't need those reminders cluttering up my life anymore.

Rebecca deserved better. I deserved better.

As I sat back on my bed, exhausted from the emotional purge, my phone buzzed. I glanced at it, half-expecting some drama-filled message from Justin, but instead, it was a text from my mom.

Mom: Hey sweetie, I'm picking up some things for the baby. Do you want to come with me to the store later? We can look at cribs and stuff.

I smiled, feeling a wave of gratitude for her support. My mom had been a rock through all of this, never once letting me feel like I was alone.

Me: Sure, sounds good. I'll be ready in a bit.

It felt like a new chapter was starting, one where I wasn't looking backward anymore.

Later that afternoon, my mom and I walked through the aisles of the baby store. The bright colors and soft textures of baby clothes, toys, and furniture surrounded us. It was overwhelming but in a good way. For the first time in a long time, I felt excitement about the future.

We stopped in front of a row of cribs, and my mom smiled at me. "So, what do you think? Have you thought about how you want the nursery to look?"

I shrugged, still feeling a little lost in the baby section. "Not really. I guess I just want something simple. I don't need anything fancy, just something that'll feel... safe."

She nodded. "That's a good place to start. Let's find something that feels right."

We spent the next hour picking out baby essentials—diapers, bottles, blankets, and, of course, the crib. I found one that was simple but sturdy, a soft white color that would look perfect in my room. As we stood at the checkout, I felt a sense of accomplishment. This wasn't just about buying things—it was about preparing for Rebecca's future, a future where I was in charge.

As we loaded everything into the car, my mom turned to me. "You know, Mia, I'm really proud of you."

I looked at her, surprised. "For what?"

"For how you've handled everything," she said, her eyes filled with warmth. "I know this hasn't been easy, but you've shown so much strength. You've made decisions that put Rebecca first, even when they were hard."

Her words hit me in a way I hadn't expected. I hadn't been thinking of myself as strong—I had just been trying to survive. But hearing her say it made me realize that maybe I was stronger than I gave myself credit for.

"Thanks, Mom," I said softly, feeling a lump form in my throat.

"You're going to be a great mom, Mia. I can see it already."

Tears stung my eyes, but they weren't sad tears. For the first time in a long time, they were tears of hope.

That night, as I lay in bed, I thought about everything that had happened—how much had changed since I found out I was pregnant, and how much I had changed because of it. I wasn't the same girl who had been scared and unsure of what to do. I had grown. I had found my voice, my strength, and the courage to face the truth about Justin and everything else in my life.

I wasn't scared anymore. I was ready.

Rebecca's kicks brought me back to the present, and I rested my hands on my belly, feeling her little movements. She was my future now, and I was determined to give her the best life I could.

And for the first time, I believed I could do it. On my own terms.

This was our new beginning.