Three hours later...
"You said you wanted to talk, what's wrong?" I asked.
Erika shifted nervously in her seat, her voice trembling as she finally mustered the courage to speak. "I don't know how I'm going to say this," she said, her gaze darting away as if searching for the right words. "I've been hiding this secret for weeks, and it's been eating at me. Please don't get mad when I tell you this."
I leaned forward, urgency in my voice. "I won't, I promise. Just tell me."
Taking a deep breath, Erika exhaled slowly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I... I got an abortion."
Stunned, I felt the air leave my lungs. "What?!"
Erika glanced down, the weight of her admission heavy between us. "I felt like I wasn't ready for a baby. I have this great new job opportunity in Florida, and with the demands of the position, I just wouldn't have the time or energy to care for a child."
My heart sank at her words, but I couldn't help but feel a rush of protectiveness. "You think I wouldn't help you with this?"
"Help? How?" she responded, her voice edged with a mix of fear and frustration. "You're about to start a grueling season, playing 162 games, most of which are away. It would be impossible for us to manage."
"We're in this together, Erika. I know we weren't planning on having a child, not in our early twenties, but..." I paused, trying to convey my feelings. "You're scared, aren't you? And I get it. This is all unexpected."
"I just need to be honest with you," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I did want a child at one point, but everything around me reminds me of my parents, and I don't want to repeat those mistakes. I don't feel ready for this."
I nodded, understanding the weight of her struggles. "I feel the same way. It's overwhelming to think about being parents right now. Maybe we both just need more time."
"Yeah, we do," Erika said.
*************
The Next Day
"Hey...," Erika said softly as she stepped into the bathroom, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
"Hey," I replied, glancing up from the mirror where I had been splashing water on my face.
"About yesterday, are you—" she began, but I couldn't let her finish.
"I'm not mad," I cut in, my tone firm yet gentle. "Whether it's a baby or no baby, nothing changes how I feel about you. I proposed before all of this because I love you, and that's what matters most to me."
A warm smile blossomed on her face, lighting up her features. "I love you too," she said, her eyes sparkling with affection.
At that moment, I felt a rush of happiness. Man, I do love that beautiful smile of hers—it has a way of making everything feel right in the world.
A/N: Alright let me explain, I felt like they weren't ready to have kids yet because you know why so the idea was either to have Erika have a miscarriage or an abortion. The other idea was to re-edit and change the chapters when the pregnancy happened but I felt way too tired and lazy to do that anyway..... So the next chapter will be out soon.
