4 years ago
Christen sat on the floor of the bathroom, looking at three positive pregnancy tests. It's not that she doesn't want to have a family, she doesn't expect that it would happen this early. She's only 20 and still in college. There were knocks coming from the door.
"Yeah?" Christen called out.
"Is everything alright? It's been a while since you walked in the bathroom." her roommate, Kelley asked in a concerned tone. Christen sighed in response; they're very close, and they have played soccer together since their freshman year. They're both forwards on a soccer team for Stanford.
"You can come in," Christen said with a shaky voice, put her head down as Kelley walked in the room and looked down at Christen. She sat down next to her.. Christen can't help but cry. She's scared to be a mother this young. She knew she has to tell her boyfriend but they've only been dating for almost two months and it wasn't serious, she wouldn't expect anything from him. She felt someone's arms wrap around her.
"What's wrong, Presi?" Kelley asked. Christen didn't respond but she pointed to positive pregnancy tests. "Oh. Oh..." Kelley started to realize. "You're having a baby...what are you going to do about the baby?"
Christen looked up at her then looked away. She can't see herself having an abortion or giving up her baby to strangers. She slowly nodded, she's keeping the baby which means Christen has to quit Stanford soccer team and U-20 USWNT. She wasn't going to drop out of college, and she'll have to find a job that pays decent enough to take care of a baby.
"I'm keeping the baby," Christen spoke. "Yeah, I am keeping my baby." She looked at Kelley.
"How far are you?" Kelley asked.
"I don't know." Christen didn't forget about telling her boyfriend. "I have to tell Derek." She pulled her phone out and sent him a text message telling him to meet her in a local cafe across from the campus after Derek's class.
"I am going to be an awesome aunt who will spoil your kid," Kelley said, and Christen rolled her eyes, but she's glad to have her to make the situation lighter a bit.
"Just don't." they both laughed.
Christen left her apartment and walked to the cafe, and she almost ordered a coffee but she was unsure if she was allowed to have caffeine while pregnant. She mentally made a note to learn about pregnancy soon. She brought her laptop to do her homework while she waited for Derek to arrive.
"Hey baby," Derek smiled at her and Christen returned a soft smile.
"Hi, Derek." Derek took an empty seat, sitting in front of her. He grabbed her hand and waited for her to speak. When she hadn't said anything yet, he knew something's wrong.
"Is everything alright, Christen?" He asked, obviously worried.
Without thinking, she blurted the news out, "I'm pregnant." Great, Christen thought.
"What?" Derek pulled his hand away in shock. "Are you kidding me?"
"Why would I be joking about being pregnant?"
"Okay, well. Are you keeping it?"
Christen scoffed, can't believe how Derek is acting like this. "The baby is not an 'it'. Use the term 'baby'! Jesus."
"So you're keeping it?" Derek crossed his arms. "I'm not ready to be a dad. I am too young for this."
"I'm not ready to be a mom either...but that doesn't mean I have to give the baby away, it's my baby." Christen softened. She did not want to give her baby up. The little human was growing inside of her. She put her hand on her stomach even though it's still early to show her bump or feel her bump but she knew her baby was there.
