Her Faults

Epilogue

My hands shake. Im clenching this pregnancy stick too hard. Too tight. Me and Zach havent had sex since that night, six or seven months ago. There's no way I carried a baby this long and didnt know. Right? My phone vibrates, my mothers beautiful face popping up.
"It's positive bbygirl."
I feel disgusting. I forgave Zach for that night, we did counseling and still got married. But a baby? Conceived through rape? I can't keep it. This is a mistake. Accident. Blunder. Anything but our baby. Will Zach even want a baby? I know he loves me but with his schedule, he's never around.
"Abortion?"
I text back. I stare at the little plastic stick. So pointless but carrying so much meaning. I need to think fast.
"Everything happens for a reason."
Mom, always trying to be positive. She's right. But a drunk night full of hatred and heartbreak? A rape baby. I can't think of any other term. My fist cracks the plastic. As much as I'd love to forget that night and everything that happened, I hang on to it. Joe made love to me as if it were our first time all over again. Begged me to stay. I took control. I left. Like a thief on the night, I took everything I came with. I only left a letter of apology. That crazy night. Full of untold stories and growing up.
A memory worth keeping a thousand years. I'm consumed in the image of Joe. Only he could love and hurt me so much I wanted more. Only I could leave him after all that love making. Deceitful. Blood dripping down my arm brings me back to focus. This rape baby. I can't call it that forever, if I decide to keep it. He or she will need a name and all my time. My adrenaline starts pumping and I have to balance myself while standing. Zach. Joe. That one night. One night of hell and pleasure.
"Tell Joe I need 2 him."
It can't be his. Or it could be. Would Joe want to it? Now I see how Karma works. This is absolutely Her Fault.