Floras Big Secret

Chapter 4: Unexpected Reactions

---The weight of the decision still hung over Flora like a storm cloud. No matter how much reassurance Helia gave her, or how much support she had from her friends, she couldn't escape the one thing she knew she had to do. She had to tell her parents. Flora loved her parents dearly—they had always been her biggest supporters. They had raised her in the heart of nature, surrounded by forests and gardens, teaching her the importance of balance and healing. But this? This was different. Flora was still just a young fairy, on the verge of graduating from Alfea, and her future was only beginning. She wasn't sure how they would react. Would they be proud? Would they understand? Or would they see this as an obstacle, something to stand in the way of everything she had worked for?She had avoided calling them for days. Every time she picked up the communicator, the words got stuck in her throat. The fear of disappointing them, the fear of their reaction—it was paralyzing. But she couldn't wait forever. With a deep breath, she activated the magical communicator and waited as the screen flickered to life. The familiar faces of her parents appeared, but this time, they didn't seem quite as calm as usual. Flora's heart pounded harder as her mother's warm smile faltered. Her mother's long, brown hair cascaded over her shoulders as she smiled softly, but there was something different in her eyes today—a hint of worry that Flora had never seen before. Her father stood next to her, arms crossed, his eyes serious."Flora, darling, how are you doing?" her mother asked, though the concern in her voice was unmistakable. Flora hesitated, her fingers tightening around the edge of the communicator. "I've been... okay," she said slowly, forcing the words out. "But there's something important I need to tell you."Her parents exchanged a glance, and immediately, the atmosphere shifted. Flora could feel the tension building, the air around her growing heavy. "What is it, sweetheart? You're scaring us," her father said, his voice tight.Flora's chest tightened, and she swallowed hard. "I... I'm pregnant," she said, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. The silence that followed felt like an eternity. Her mother's face drained of color, and her father's eyes widened in shock."Pregnant?" her father repeated, his voice rising. "You're what?"Flora nodded, her throat closing up as she tried to steady her voice. "I—I know it's unexpected. But I found out a few days ago, and I just wanted to tell you."Her mother's eyes, once filled with warmth, were now clouded with confusion and disbelief. "Flora, this is... this is insane! You're still in school! You're about to graduate, for heaven's sake! You can't just throw your life away like this!"Flora recoiled, the harshness in her mother's tone cutting deeper than she expected. She had never seen her parents react like this—especially her mother, who had always been so understanding. "I'm not throwing my life away, Mom," Flora said, her voice shaking. "This doesn't change who I am. It's just... it's just something unexpected. But I'm ready to face it. I'll figure it out. I have Helia, and I have my friends—"Her father interrupted her, his voice rising. "Figure it out? Flora, this is not just something you can figure out! You're talking about raising a child! You're still so young. You don't even have a stable future yet!"Flora's heart dropped. Her father's harsh words felt like a blow. She had always known that her parents had high expectations for her, but hearing them speak so dismissively about something that was such a big part of her now hurt more than she thought it would. "Dad, please..." Flora's voice was barely above a whisper. "I don't need you to be angry with me. I just need you to understand."Her mother's eyes, now filled with tears, softened, but there was still an edge of frustration in her voice. "Understand? Flora, do you understand what this means? You're not just a little girl anymore. You're going to be a mother. You have to think about your future, your career, and this child. It's not just about you anymore.""I've thought about it," Flora said, her voice trembling but determined. "I've thought about all of it. I don't know what's going to happen next, but I'm not alone. Helia is with me. He's been so supportive, and so are my friends. They're all helping me figure it out."Her father's expression hardened. "And what about your plans, Flora? What about your dreams of saving nature, of making a difference? You think you can just do that while raising a baby? Do you even know what you're getting into?"The accusation hit her like a slap in the face. Flora felt her heart break. She had always been the one to stand by her family, to help her parents with everything related to the environment, the garden, and the magical healing she'd been learning to perfect at Alfea. But in this moment, it felt as though everything she had worked for was suddenly being dismissed."You think I haven't thought about that? You think I don't know how hard it's going to be?" Flora's voice cracked as the emotions finally surged to the surface. "I don't know what the future holds, but I do know that I want to be a mother. I want to raise this child in a world that's better, and I don't think I have to give up everything else just because I'm going to have a baby!"Her mother's face twisted in frustration. "Flora, this isn't just about what you *want*. This is about your future, about your responsibilities. You're still a student, you don't have a plan! You're going to throw away everything you've worked for, all for a mistake!"Flora's eyes filled with tears. This wasn't the support she had imagined. This wasn't what she had expected. She had imagined her parents embracing her, comforting her, not reacting with anger and disappointment."I didn't plan this," Flora whispered, her voice breaking. "I didn't expect it, but this is happening. I'm not asking for your approval. I'm just asking you to trust me. Please."For a long moment, her parents remained silent, the tension so thick it felt suffocating. Finally, her father spoke, his voice quieter now, though still filled with emotion. "You're our daughter, Flora. But we don't know if you're ready for this. We don't know if you're making the right choice."Flora swallowed, her throat dry. "I understand if you're disappointed. But this is my choice to make. I'm the one who has to live with it."Her mother's face softened just a fraction, but she still looked like she was in shock. "Flora, you've always been our bright, promising daughter. You've always had a future ahead of you. Please don't throw it all away."Flora's heart clenched. She wanted to tell them that this wasn't the end of everything, that she could still be the person they'd always dreamed she would be. But in this moment, their disappointment was a heavy, insurmountable wall."Mom, Dad," she said softly, her voice filled with determination despite the ache in her chest. "I'll find my way, no matter what. I love you, but I need to do this my way. I just wanted you to know, because you're my family. But I need you to trust me. I'm not throwing my life away."She didn't wait for their reply. Flora turned off the communicator, her chest tight, her breath shallow. The conversation had been harder than she ever imagined. It wasn't the support she had wanted—it was harsh, unexpected, and filled with judgment. But as the screen faded to black, Flora realized something. This wasn't the end of her journey. Her parents' reaction didn't change who she was or what she wanted. She had her friends. She had Helia. And most importantly, she had herself. She would find a way to move forward, even if her parents couldn't understand.Flora took a deep breath, trying to calm the whirlwind of emotions inside her. She would figure this out. She had to.---