The visit was not pleasant. Park and I are back, and we agreed to never visit him again.
1 month later...
Park and I broke up in September. Once I started really showing, He just pretended he didn't know me.
"Were just neighbors", He'd say to his new "cool" friends, and he slowly started pulling away.
One night we met at his house. In the basement, on the same couch we'd had sex on. It was weird.
"It's not too late to have an abortion, Riley", He says, and I'm shocked, "We can go on-together-like nothing ever happened. And we can be us, without having to worry about being parents".
His words struck me. "Like nothing ever happened".
"But something did happen", I say, "And I'm not going to go around pretending nothing did, and that everything's okay. Because it's not! We made the mistake, and we can't just get rid of it, Park. That's not how it works".
"Riley, it's the only way we can stay together", He says.
"Parker", I whisper, "I can't believe you! That is a lie. It's a lie! They're other options".
"Like what?".
"Like keeping this baby, and learning from our mistakes", I say, "When life gives you hardships, you cannot just go around them and forget your mistakes! You need to learn. And the only way you can do that is to live...from your mistakes".
He looks at me like I'm a complete idiot.
"So, if dating you, kissing you, having sex with you, and being around you were mistakes, you're saying live from that? How am I supposed to do that by staying with you and this baby?".
"You have to try, Park", I say gently, "You have to try".
"I can't ", He says, "You're so much better than me, and I'm a real jerk. You don't deserve me".
"Don't say that!", I scold him.
"Fine, but honestly", He starts to say, "We've been through so many ups and downs since you discovered you were pregnant, and I've told you before...we...are not working out the way we should be. This is not a healthy relationship like we promised each other. We do not deserve to be together".
I stay quiet for a long time. Then I look at Park.
"You're right", I say, "This isn't going to work".
"Ri, this is only for the best", He says, "Remember that".
I nod.
"So...".
"Yeah, we're over", I say, "But no matter how much you hate it you are the father of this baby, and you cannot defend that matter. It's not fair".
"It is fair", He says, "It's my choice whether or not I want to be part of that baby's life, and I chose not to be. It doesn't deserve me as a father, Riley. This is for the best. We both know it".
I nod in agreement.
"If that's what you want", I say, quietly, "I'll raise this baby myself. I'm not a quitter".
Parker smiles at me, weakly.
I smile back, nodding.
Then I turn and leave, with my stomach in full view, because I'm not depending on embarrassment. I'm depending on me. My pride. My heart. My life.
This baby's life depends on me. And I'm depending on this baby.
YOU ARE READING
My baby: A Teen Pregnancy Story
Teen FictionShe was afraid to tell anybody. It was her problem, right? So why give that to someone else? She deserved it by far. She was the one who had made it happen, whether or not she liked it, that was the way it was. How she was going to get through this...
