Harder Choices
1137 Words
Ava’s Car, Los Angeles
March 15th, 2023 — 10:10 AM
My heart pounded so violently that my voice shook. “Austin, we can’t talk about this over the phone. It has to be face-to-face.”
Silence stretched painfully before Austin’s reply came, cautious and strained. “Alright, Ava. Where?”
“Same place as last time,” I said. “The Hot Bar Hotel. Room 231.”
He exhaled slowly, voice lowering with reluctant acceptance. “Fine. But no funny business. I can’t stay long, Karoline’s ultrasound is later today, and I can't miss it.”
Pain seared through me at his words, jealousy and hurt mixing bitterly. My temper flared instantly. “Really, Austin? You don’t even care about me anymore. You’ve moved on completely, haven’t you?”
“Ava, that’s bullshit!” Austin snapped back. “You know damn well I love you, but I’m stuck, okay? I have responsibilities now, I can’t change that. Karoline trapped me with this pregnancy, and now I’m fucked.”
I froze at his slip, my mouth dropping open in shock. “Trapped you? What the hell are you talking about, Austin?”
He groaned deeply, voice raw with regret. “Forget I said that. Look, we need to talk now. I’ll meet you at the hotel.”
“Fine,” I whispered, heart pounding painfully as I hung up.
Hot Bar Hotel, Room 231
11:02 AM
Austin entered the hotel room, visibly tense, eyes guarded. I shut the door softly behind him, my stomach twisting in dread.
“What’s going on, Ava?” he asked.
I took a deep breath, courage wavering, then finally spoke the words that shattered our world once again. “Austin, I’m pregnant. And it might be yours.”
He stared at me, color draining from his face, shock etched deeply into his features. Slowly, he sank to his knees, shuffling over and placing gentle, shaking hands on my waist. His lips brushed my stomach softly, reverently, tears streaming quietly down his face. Instinctively, my fingers threaded tenderly through his hair as we both wept silently.
“Why does the timing have to be so f*****g wrong?” Austin choked out.
I gently pushed him back, my voice breaking softly. “Austin, you don’t have to worry. I’m not keeping it. You already have Karoline and your baby coming and honestly, I don’t even know if this is yours or Jordan’s.”
His expression darkened instantly, anger flickering sharply across his face. He stood abruptly, neck flushed red, eyes intense. “Ava, please don’t kill my baby. I know it’s mine. It was always supposed to happen like this just us. I’ll tell Karoline everything. We can all co-parent.”
Bitter laughter escaped me as I stepped away, disbelief heavy in my voice. “Are you f*****g serious, Austin? Do you honestly think my marriage can survive telling Jordan that I f****d you, that I might be having your baby? That I love you, wish this child were yours? How do you think that would go?”
His jaw clenched tightly, anguish clouding his eyes. “Ava—”
“My choice is made,” I interrupted firmly. “I respected you enough to at least tell you. But tell me something why the f**k did you let Karoline trap you like this? With a baby you don’t even want?”
Austin exhaled sharply. “I do want this baby, Ava. It’s not the child’s fault how it was conceived. Karoline lied about being on birth control but I chose not to wear a condom, so that’s on me too.”
Desperation surged through me. I moved toward him urgently, gripping his arm. “Then please, Austin, don’t marry her. Just raise your child. Don’t ruin your life.”
He shook his head firmly, stepping back angrily. “Ava, you ran off and got married! Now you want me to halt my life because you can’t decide who you want? I love you but I’m marrying Karoline. It’s the right thing to do.”
“Austin,” I pleaded fiercely, eyes begging, “a woman who traps you like this will only do worse. You deserve better. Don’t marry her!”
Suddenly, Austin’s eyes darkened dangerously. He grabbed me by my hair, dominant yet tender, pulling me roughly into his powerful kiss. His free hand closed gently around my throat, backing me against the wall possessively.
“You want me to sacrifice everything,” he growled against my lips, “yet you stand here planning to kill our child? No, Ava. Not today, not ever. Keep our baby.”
“Austin—” I gasped weakly, overwhelmed by his passion.
Before I could protest further, his lips moved lower, his hands skilled and possessive as he lifted my dress and claimed me completely. I surrendered immediately, wrapping my legs tightly around him, needing him desperately, rational thought dissolving beneath raw desire.
“Say you’ll keep it,” he whispered urgently, entering me forcefully, possessively, lips claiming mine with fierce hunger.
“Yes,” I moaned softly, lost in him completely. “I’ll keep our baby.”
The world faded away as we lost ourselves completely in one another, sealing promises made in desperate passion.
The Lake View Hotel Los Angeles, Penthouse Suite 161
Saturday, August 23rd, 2025 — 5:50 AM
“Oh, hold up wait a damn minute,” Keisha interrupted sharply, disbelief clear on her face. “Let me put some ‘b***h, I told you so’ in it. You went to flush that baby out but ended up f*****g Austin again? Ava, how stupid can you be?”
Toni snickered teasingly, nudging Keisha playfully. “Maybe Ava was hoping Austin’s huge d**k would knock that baby loose!”
Several women erupted in guilty laughter, but Camille’s stern voice quickly silenced everyone.
“That’s enough!” Camille snapped sharply, pain etched across her beautiful face. “Abortion isn’t a joke. It’s never been funny. Y’all have no idea how much a choice like that costs you. Believe me I know.”
The room fell utterly silent, stunned faces turned toward Camille, who took a shaky breath and continued quietly. “I had an abortion, back when things weren’t as advanced as they are now. It was the hardest decision of my life. I’ve never fully recovered from it.”
Instantly, each woman rose, moving toward Camille, enveloping her in comforting hugs.
I exhaled slowly, feeling the deep sadness of Camille’s truth fill the room. Finally, breaking the solemn silence gently, I spoke up, eyes heavy with pain.
“Well,” I whispered softly, my voice shaking, “now that Auntie Camille has put us firmly back in reality—it’s time I tell y’all the darkest, hardest part of my story yet.”
- Writer
