APRIL

THE DREAM

We woke up the next morning and it felt like it had all been a dream.

But it wasn't.

Forrest was still asleep, so I just began to stare at him like I usually do.

He is so handsome, we would probably make a cute kid.

Did I really want to keep it?

I had so much to think about.

When would be the right time to tell my parents...and his?

How would we?

Do I need to drop out of school?

I'm only a junior...

Forrest wakes up a little while later and we decide to just lay in bed for a little while longer.

"I had a dream last night," he begins to tell me.

I look at him, "about?"

"Us having a kid. I could really see us raising this child, Em." He begins to rub my shoulder gently.

I sigh, "Forrest, I still don't know if I want to keep it. What if we are terrible parents. I don't even know how to hold a baby for Christ sake."

"Baby, that's why you learn. Do you know any people with a baby?"

"Not anyone that doesn't know my mother."

He sighs and I lean into him covering my face.

Talking about this is so unreal. How is this happening to me?

"Forrest it's not that I don't want to raise a kid with you. I would love to. It's the fact we still have another year in high school before we graduate. The fact that we have no money or anywhere to live. I just don't know what to do." I begin to feel tears form in my eyes and one after another they begin to drip down my cheeks.

He hugs me tightly after I sniffle, "Emma it's okay. I'm gonna be here for everything. I love you. I'm not going anywhere. We are in this together."

"I love you too."

But would he actually stay?

Was he actually speaking the truth?

How is he going to know what it's going to be like in 6 months when I'm fat or even after the baby is here?

People change their minds all the time.

I just wish we were older.

-

I went home later that afternoon and at first, I cried.

Then I decided to google things about 'teen moms' and eventually found a couple of you tubers who were pregnant at my age and how they got through it.

Not that they have the same life as me, but they still gave tips on how to tell your parents and good choices to make when carrying your child.

I close my laptop after watching two hours worth of YouTube videos and decide to go downstairs to get something to eat.

But when I get downstairs Forrest is in the kitchen talking to my parents with a happy smile on his face. How could he act like nothing was growing inside my body?

He looks at me, "Hey Em, was just about to come upstairs."

My mom and dad smile at me and bid goodbye to him before leaving the kitchen.

I look at him curiously, "what are you doing here," I pause, "no offense."

He rolls his eyes and laughs, "it's Saturday night you're not staying in all night alone. Let's go somewhere."

"Like where?"

He walks over to me and grabs my hand, "we can ride the subway up to the city and take a walk there or at Central Park and maybe get a carriage ride in before it's too cold."

I look up at him and smile, "that sounds great." His finger glides across my cheek before kissing me gently, "I'm gonna go change real quick."

He nods and I run upstairs to change out of my sweatpants and a T-shirt I had stolen from Forrest a few weeks ago.

I take my clothes off and stand in front of the mirror for a minute and just stare at my stomach.

Could anyone notice I was getting fatter? Was I showing? Hell I don't even know how many weeks I am.

I think it's 6 weeks.

Something close to that.

I shouldn't be showing.

But why do I look so bloated?

"You know you look beautiful as ever, Emma." A voice startles me and I turn around to see Forrest standing in the door way.

"Do you notice a change?" I ask as I turn around to look back at my stomach.

He walks over and stands behind me and places his hand on my stomach while caressing his thumb across it, "the only change I've noticed is that your skin is glowing more. You seriously look beautiful and I'm not just trying to be nice, I'm serious."

"I love when you're so sweet to me."

"Always baby. Now hurry up," his hand slaps my ass before turning to walk back out of the bedroom.

Boys.

I put on a pair of leggings, a sweatshirt, and some adidas and went to go find Forrest.

Once we were ready we walked to the subway which was a few blocks away. It wasn't too bad though.

We got on the train and surprisingly there weren't too many people on it. Thankfully. We ride it all the way to Central Park and then decide to do a carriage ride around the park before it got too dark outside.

My head was leaned against his shoulder as I heard the horses hooves clamp along the concrete. His hand rests along my thigh as we ride around the park watching all of the children play.

"You know I think you're just looking at all of the bad things that come with being a teen mom. Sure having a baby is going to be absolute hell, but there's so many good things about it."

I look up at him, "like what? All I can see is that my future is going to be ruined."

"Not exactly, baby. Look you can still finish school. You can still get a degree. I'm going to be here for you. There's a little human growing inside of you right now that's going to look exactly like the two of us. We are going to watch it grow up little by little to see it take its first steps and say it's first words, and then you'll even get the first experience of holding something that you yourself brought into the world. It's absolutely amazing."

"Why are you so intrigued by all of this?" I ask him curiously.

"I got to see the same thing watching my baby sister grow up these past few years. They're absolutely incredible ivy. Sure the crying and all the diapers you have to change are hell but that's what I'm here for baby."

I sigh, "I know. Fore we're just so young."

"I know baby. I know." He runs his hands through his hair, "but you know, I'm gonna get a job and we're both gonna finish school. We're gonna move out into our own little home and we are gonna raise this baby together."

I look up at him and I could feel a tear run down my cheek. He wipes it away and he asks, "why are you crying baby?"

"I'm just- I'm so happy that you're actually here for me. So many people say they'll be there but run off."

"It's me and you forever baby."