Taylor for the Night

Chapter 17 Good News

"Is she alive?"

"Yes Taylor, Grace is alive."

I let out all the air I hadn't realized I had been holding and began to cry like a small child.

"She was shot in the back, but miraculous no vital organs, nerves, nor her spine was hit. Surprisingly, it was just a flesh wound. She had a small operation to remove the bullet and she has recovered quite nicely....well physically that is. Psychologically not so much."

"What do you mean?" I gulped, relieved she was physically ok, but concerned about my best friend's current mental state.

"Well for starters getting shot by your own brother, is definitely going to leave her, a teenage girl, with some psychological problems. And then having you be in a coma the last two weeks and your mom starting chemo and her brother being in jail... She's been through a lot." He noticed I was crying again, but he quickly hushed me. "Oh don't cry Taylor, none of this is your fault and your friend is going to be just fine. She's been going to a therapist and working through all her problems. Now that you're awake I'm suggesting the same thing for you...once you're feeling up to it of course. For now try to relax ok?"

I nodded my head, too overwhelmed with emotions and information to be able to come up with any words to say. Thankfully the doctor seemed to understand because he just reassuringly smiled at me, patted my hand and headed for the door.

He turned to look at me right before he stepped out and said, "Oh and don't worry your Mom and friends will be up to visit you soon. Just be patient as you wait." And with that final word he opened the door and left, leaving me all alone to my overwhelming amount of thoughts and emotions.

I wasn't alone for too long though, for about an half an hour later a small knock erupted on my wooden door, killing the heavy silence in my room.

The door slowly swung open to reveal my mom sitting in a wheelchair being pushed in by the 'angel' nurse from earlier.

"Mom." I croaked, holding back tears.

"Taylor," She whispered through her broken half smile.

The nurse parked the wheelchair next to my bed before giving me an small smile and leaving the room.

My mother took my hand in her's and deeply looked at me as tears filled her eyes.

"My precious baby girl. Do you know how thankful I am for you?" Her voiced cracked as the tears got stuck in her throat. "I know life is a living hell right now, and everything is going to drastically change from here on out, but we're going to get through this together, just you and me, ok?"

"Not if you die though..." I whispered. "Then I won't have anyone... At all.

She then stared right into my brown eyes with her big blue ones and I saw all of her emotions more clearly than I've ever seen anything in my entire life. I saw pain, fear, and sorrow in her eyes, but I also saw hope and determination.

Grabbing my hand tightly, she open her mouth and spoke with determination. "Don't worry child. The doctors may think I got little time left to live, but they're wrong. I just know that God is gonna let me live long enough to meet my grandchild, of this I'm certain! I just hope it's a girl, so everyday you can look at her, and have a reminder that I am with you always."

"Wait, what? What do you mean?" I gazed at her confused.

"I mean, you are keeping this child Taylor, and that's it. Ready or not, my baby girl is gonna be a mother. The baby is in the works and will soon be on it's way out into the world."

'Wait, whattt? Me a mother? Keep the child?!No no no no nooooo. This is not a part of my plan! I'm too young to be a mother! I don't want to keep this child! It's the product of bullying and rape for God's sake! I don't need a constant reminder of THAT, in my life! I can't, I just can't be a mom!" I yelled as I burst into tears.

"Don't worry Taylor you won't be doing this alone." A voice interrupted my sobs.

I looked up to see Grace standing there looking the most distraught I had ever seen her in all our years of friendship. Her hair was not brushed to the point that her yellow hair represent more of a golden retriever...after it has gotten it's fur wet and blow-dried. Her clothes had food stains all over them, and her shoes were only half tied. Her face looked horrible, her eyes has dark circles under them, tears had stained her cheeks and there was makeup smudged all over. Finally, I noticed that bandages could be seen wrapped tightly around Grace's up-er back. My poor best friend looked like she had been through hell and yet she still smiled at me with her gorgeous white smile.

"You're not going to be doing this alone," she repeated again. "You're going to be the best mother ever, and besides let's face it, I'm gonna be the best Auntie ever."

"I love you," I smiled as another layer of fresh tears rolled down my face.

I ended the conversation for now and let them hug me, but I knew deep down, that this conversation was likely to happen at least a 100 more times in the time to come.

I knew my mom and Grace had their minds set on me keeping the baby, but I wasn't too sure. I mean, with a court case on my hands, my only parent dying of cancer, and with graduation and college in the nearing future, do I really have the time, ability, or need to keep this baby? Am I even ready to be a mother? Deep down, in all honesty, I'm pretty sure the answer, is No...