From Jest to Destiny

A Line Crossed

Sienna sat on the closed lid of the toilet in the staff restroom of the five-star hotel, her uniform neat but her posture slouched, as if the weight of the world had just settled on her shoulders. Her hands shook slightly, the crisp, white stick in her hand trembling as she stared down at it. Two unmistakable lines stared back at her, vivid and clear. There was no mistaking them, no room for hope or doubt. It was positive.

She let out a long, shaky breath, biting down on her lip as she tried to process what this meant. Her mind was buzzing, and her stomach twisted, but all she could do was sit there, frozen, staring at those two tiny lines. Finally, she found her voice, muttering quietly to herself.

“What the hell, Sienna?” she whispered, her voice barely more than a choked murmur. “How did I let this happen?” She clenched her jaw, running a hand through her hair in frustration.

The restroom was quiet, the faint hum of the ventilation fan the only sound. She knew she should be out there working, vacuuming the hallways or fluffing pillows in penthouse suites that would cost her a month’s salary just to spend a night in. But right now, she couldn’t bring herself to move, let alone focus on work. She was in shock, her heart pounding erratically as she tried to wrap her head around this unexpected twist.

“Okay, Sienna, think,” she whispered again, shaking her head as she tried to reel in her spiraling thoughts. “How? When? How did I…?” She couldn’t finish the sentence, as if saying it out loud would make it even more real. This wasn’t part of the plan—if she’d even had a plan.

“What am I going to do?” she muttered bitterly, as if the stick itself would offer an answer. She clenched her fist, gripping it tighter. “You i***t, Sienna. Why weren’t you more careful?” She let her head fall into her hands, feeling the familiar sting of tears welling up in her eyes.

Everything she’d worked for, everything she’d fought to hold together—was it all about to unravel? She’d taken this cleaning job to start saving for the future, to finally make something of herself. But now, the future felt like a looming shadow, more uncertain than ever.

She looked up, glaring at her own reflection in the small mirror on the opposite wall. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her face pale. How did it come to this? she thought, feeling anger flare up, directed at herself, her choices, her bad luck, everything.

A knock on the door startled her out of her thoughts, and she quickly wiped her eyes, shoving the test into her pocket and standing up straight, as if nothing had happened. She forced a steady breath, trying to clear her voice.

“Sienna, you in there?” It was her coworker, Maria, her voice muffled through the door. “Hey, they need us up on the fourth floor. Something about a VIP suite—last-minute clean-up.”

Sienna quickly turned on the tap, splashing some water on her face to look less like she’d just been hit by a train. “Yeah, I’ll… I’ll be right there,” she called back, her voice strained.

Maria lingered, her tone softer. “You okay? You’ve been in there a while.”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Sienna replied, trying to sound casual, as if everything was perfectly normal. “I’ll be out in a sec.”

Once she heard Maria’s footsteps fading, Sienna leaned against the sink, taking another deep breath. “Pull it together,” she whispered to herself. “You can’t fall apart now. Not here.” But the gravity of the situation pressed down on her, and no amount of pep talk could make it go away.

She clenched her fists, the test still in her hand, the sharp lines practically burning into her palm. How was she supposed to deal with this? Her mother would be disappointed, and her family would likely be in shock. And then there was the inevitable question—how would she support herself and a baby on this cleaning job? How would she keep going, let alone build a life for someone else?

Her thoughts flickered back to a memory, her family gathered around the dinner table years ago. Aunt Karen’s smug smile, her words echoing in Sienna’s mind: “You know, maybe college isn’t for everyone. You could just start working right away.” And here she was, working at a fancy hotel, cleaning up after strangers who probably wouldn’t even notice her if they passed her in the hall.

She let out a harsh, humorless laugh. “Guess you were right, Aunt Karen,” she muttered under her breath, bitterness seeping into her voice. “This is what ‘practical’ gets me, huh?”

For a moment, she allowed herself to imagine a different path, one where she’d gone to college, studied, found a job with a real future. But that life felt like a distant dream, a road not taken, and now, it felt too late.

With a final glance at herself in the mirror, she straightened up, willing her expression to harden, to mask the fear and frustration swirling inside her. She took a deep breath, stowing the test carefully into her pocket. For now, she had to focus on getting through her shift. There would be time—somehow—to figure the rest out later.

“Just keep going, Sienna,” she whispered to herself. “One step at a time.” But as she walked out of the restroom and back into the fluorescent-lit hallway, the weight of her uncertain future hung heavy, the tiny, undeniable proof of her new reality tucked away in her pocket, reminding her that everything was about to change.

...

The apartment was dark, except for the soft blue glow of the television flickering in the living room. Sienna quietly closed the door behind her, slipping off her shoes and placing her keys on the small table by the door. Her body was exhausted, but her mind was racing, the weight of the day—and the tiny test tucked away in her bag—making her feel heavier with every step.

As she walked into the living room, she spotted her mother, Luna, asleep on the couch, her head resting awkwardly against the cushion. She was still in her work clothes, her hand loosely gripping the remote, and the TV softly murmuring in the background. Sienna’s chest tightened. Luna must have stayed up waiting for her to come home, just like she always did, no matter how late her shift ended.

Sienna stood there for a moment, taking in the sight. Guilt twisted in her stomach. Here you are, Sienna, she thought bitterly, working this job that barely pays, and now… this. She ran a hand through her hair, the frustration bubbling up. How did you manage to mess things up even more? You haven’t even done anything with your life, and now you have even more baggage. This isn’t fair to her.

Her mother had sacrificed so much, worked long hours, scraped together every penny just so Sienna could have a decent life. And what did Sienna have to show for it? A cleaning job in a hotel, no savings to speak of, and now… she closed her eyes, feeling a familiar burn behind them. She couldn’t fall apart, not here, not now. She swallowed, breathing in deeply, and steadied herself.

She walked over to her mother and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “Mom… hey, Mom,” she said softly, giving her a gentle shake.

Luna stirred, her eyes fluttering open slowly. She blinked up at Sienna, her face softening into a tired smile. “Sienna… you’re home. I must’ve dozed off waiting for you,” she murmured, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. She gave a little yawn, looking around as if to orient herself. “What time is it?”

“Late,” Sienna replied with a small, forced smile, trying to keep her voice steady. “You should go to bed, Mom. You’ve been working all day. You’re gonna hurt your neck if you sleep out here.”

Luna waved her hand dismissively, still looking at her daughter with gentle eyes. “I don’t mind. I like knowing you’re home safe.” She reached out, patting Sienna’s hand affectionately. “How was work?”

Sienna hesitated, her heart sinking. How could she answer that question now? How could she tell her mother everything that was going on, the weight of her struggles, the fears that were now multiplying with each passing hour? She forced a smile, the kind that didn’t reach her eyes. “It was… fine,” she replied simply, looking away. “Just… you know, the usual.”

Luna nodded, her face still showing a trace of concern as she scanned her daughter’s face. “You sure you’re all right? You seem a little… distant.” She tilted her head, studying Sienna’s face closely. “You know, you can tell me if anything’s bothering you.”

The words nearly shattered her. Sienna bit the inside of her cheek, trying to keep her expression neutral. The guilt, the shame—it felt like it was swallowing her whole. Here was her mother, who’d done everything for her, worrying about her well-being, while Sienna was keeping such a monumental secret.

“I’m fine, Mom,” she lied softly, gently squeezing her mother’s hand. “Just tired. Long day.” She managed to keep her voice steady, but she could feel her resolve wavering. “You go to bed, okay? I don’t want you to wake up tomorrow with a stiff neck because you fell asleep on the couch.”

Luna chuckled softly, nodding in agreement. “You’re right. I should get some sleep.” She slowly rose from the couch, stretching her arms and giving a little groan of relief. “But you get some rest too, sweetheart. You work so hard,” she said, her voice laced with affection.

Sienna’s heart ached at those words. If only you knew, Mom, she thought, feeling the sting of tears that she forced back. She took a deep breath, nodding, and guided her mother towards her bedroom door. “I will. Don’t worry about me, okay?” She gave her mother a gentle nudge. “Go on, sleep. I’ll clean up in here.”

Luna gave her one last smile, squeezing her hand before heading into her room. “Goodnight, Sienna. I love you.”

“Love you too, Mom,” Sienna whispered, watching as her mother disappeared into the darkness of her bedroom. Once the door closed, she stood alone in the quiet, the only sound the faint hum of the television.

She sank down onto the couch, running her hands over her face, her mind racing. She wanted to scream, to cry, to let out all the frustration and confusion building inside her. She took the test from her bag, staring at the lines once more, almost hoping that they’d somehow disappear, as if it had all been a mistake.

But they didn’t. There they were—bold, undeniable. Proof that her life was about to change, whether she was ready or not.

Sienna closed her bedroom door softly, leaning her forehead against it as she let out a shaky breath. She swiped at the tears already welling in her eyes, trying to keep them at bay, but it was no use. A single tear slipped down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away, frustrated with herself for even breaking down like this.

She sank onto the edge of her bed, pressing her palms against her eyes, as if she could somehow erase the reality of the situation with enough pressure. A sense of betrayal flooded through her, a harsh voice in her mind whispering that she should have known better, that she should have seen it coming.

“How could you let this happen, Sienna?” she whispered to herself, her voice filled with bitterness and frustration. Her hand drifted to her stomach, her fingers brushing over the faint curve. The reality of it hit her all over again, and she squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back another wave of tears.

She thought back to that night, the laughter, the music pounding in her ears, her friends convincing her to take another drink, one after the other. She’d trusted them. They were her friends, after all, and it had been her first time at a place like that. She’d just wanted to fit in, to feel carefree, even if only for a little while.

“Why did I say yes?” she muttered, angry with herself. She replayed the memory, how her friend had handed her drink after drink, assuring her it was “all in good fun,” that it was just “part of the experience.” She’d been so naive, so trusting, not thinking twice about the concoctions handed to her.

She’d woken up the next morning, dazed and disoriented, in a room she didn’t recognize, tangled up next to someone she barely knew. She knew him, yes—but only in passing, a friend of a friend, someone she’d never thought twice about. The weight of that memory settled heavily on her chest, a mix of anger, shame, and regret.

“It’s not fair,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “It was supposed to be a night out, nothing more.” She clenched her fists, feeling that old anger flare up, anger at herself, at her friends, at the situation itself. She wanted to blame him, to place the weight of this on anyone else’s shoulders but her own. But she knew deep down that it wouldn’t change anything. The choice had been hers too, even if she hadn’t understood the full consequences at the time.

But then her hand drifted to her stomach again, and she felt her anger soften, just a little. This wasn’t the baby’s fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, really—it was just a mistake, a series of bad decisions that had led her here. She couldn’t blame the child growing inside her. It hadn’t asked to be brought into the world under these circumstances. That responsibility rested with her.

“This isn’t your fault,” she murmured softly, her voice breaking as she looked down at her belly. “It’s mine. I should’ve… I should’ve known better.” The words tasted bitter, but she forced herself to say them, to accept the reality of what had happened. She couldn’t undo the past, and no amount of blame or regret could change what was already set in motion.

Taking a deep, shaky breath, she closed her eyes and tried to steady herself. What’s done is done, she thought, the phrase echoing in her mind like a mantra. She didn’t know what she was going to do yet, didn’t have any answers, and the future felt like a dark, looming shadow. But for now, she knew she had to keep going, to face the days ahead one step at a time.

After a long silence, she whispered to herself, “I’ll figure this out. I don’t know how, but I will.”

Her phone clutched tightly in her hand as she stared down at the screen. Her mind was racing, going back and forth, a tangle of hesitation and urgency knotting in her chest. She needed answers—she couldn’t make any decisions without understanding the full picture of what she was facing. But that meant calling him.

Her thumb hovered over his contact. She hadn’t called him in weeks, hadn’t even seen him since that night. And now, here she was, barely able to keep her hands steady, debating on whether or not to disturb his life, to bring him into this chaos she was barely beginning to process herself.

It was late—too late, she thought, biting her lip. He was either asleep or maybe still wrapped up in some late-night training session or event. He was always busy, his schedule packed with commitments she couldn’t keep track of, tied up in a life that couldn’t have been more different from hers. But the longer she sat there, the more she knew she couldn’t wait any longer. The clock was ticking, and no matter how much she wanted to delay this, she had to know where he stood.

Taking a deep, shuddering breath, she pressed the call button. The dial tone filled the quiet of her room, each ring sending her heartbeat up a notch. Part of her hoped he wouldn’t answer—that she could put this off for just a little while longer. But after what felt like an eternity, she heard a click on the other end, a faint rustle, and then his voice, slightly groggy but unmistakably his.

“Hello?” he answered, his tone cautious, as if he wasn’t sure who would be calling him at this hour.

Sienna swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. She’d rehearsed this in her head a thousand times, yet now, when it came to it, her voice seemed to catch in her throat. Finally, she let out a long, shaky breath and gathered her courage.

“We need to talk,” she managed, her voice steady, though her heart felt like it was pounding out of her chest.

There was a pause on the other end, a heavy silence that seemed to stretch on. She imagined him processing the unexpected call, wondering why she’d reached out to him now, at this hour, after weeks of silence. The weight of it all pressed down on her, every moment from that night to now coming crashing back, flooding her with memories she’d tried so hard to push away.

And here she was, faced with the one person she’d once joked about marrying in front of her family, the one person she’d never thought she’d actually call at a moment like this. The person she’d now have to tell everything to, no matter the cost.

Dante. Dante Jan Marteen.