Chapter Two
1076 Words
My heart was pounding with a mixture of nerves and anticipation as I stood at the end of the path that led to Nathan’s house. Memories from the party a month ago flooded my mind as I stared at the house.
Taking a deep breath, I made my way up the familiar path, my boots crunching on the gravel with each step. As I neared the front door, I steeled herself, rehearsing the words I wanted to say.
“Hey Nathan? Remember when we had s*x a few weeks ago and never talked about it? Well, looks you're gonna be a dad,” I said under my breath, plastering a fake smile on my face.
With a trembling hand, I knocked firmly on the solid wooden door. I held my breath, waiting for a response. After a few moments, I heard footsteps walk across the house then the door swung open, and there stood Nathaniel's mother, with her brow furrowed in confusion.
"Olivia?" The older woman's voice was laced with surprise. "What are you doing here?"
My mouth felt dry, and I swallowed hard. "I... I need to speak with Nate," I said. “I thought I'll check here before going to the farm.”
The woman smiled warmly, stepping aside to make room for me to come into the house. “He went with his father to confirm tickets for our trip. It's been rescheduled for tomorrow.” She paused, her gaze sweeping over my face. "Is everything alright dear?"
He's leaving tomorrow?? It was then I noticed that everything important around the house had been packed up in boxes.
“His dad is back already?” I asked in a whisper. Nathan's father was never around and Nathan had told me they would be leaving once his father returned.
I felt the familiar sting of tears welling up in my eyes, and I blinked rapidly, cursing at my vulnerability. "I... I need to talk to him. It's important."
Nathan's mother studied me for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly making my breath hitch in my throat.
The two of us made our way into the kitchen, the ticking of the rusted clock on the wall was the only sound that filled the heavy silence. I shifted awkwardly on the edge of a chair, my hands clasped tightly in my lap.
"Are you okay, you can talk to me, you know that, right?" Nate's mother asked, her voice gentle.
I felt the first tear cascade down my cheeks. "I... I'm pregnant for Nate," I choked out, the words tasted bitter on my tongue.
The woman's eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flash of something similar to panic cross her features. But just as quickly, her expression softened, and she reached across the table to give my hand a gentle squeeze.
"Oh, my dear," she murmured, her voice laced with empathy. "Does he know?"
I shook my head, feeling the sobs building in my chest.
"Well, you know," the woman said, her tone was almost casual, "given the circumstances, don't you think it's best to... well, to get rid of it?"
I felt as if the ground had been yanked out from under me. My head spinned. "Get rid of it?" I repeated, my voice laced with disbelief. "But this is Nate’s child. How can you... how can you ask me to do that?"
Her expression hardened, and she leaned forward, with narrowed eyes. "Olivia, think about it. Nathan has a bright future ahead of him. In fact…” She reached into the basket on the table, pulling out an envelope and thrusting it towards me.
“That is his admission letter. He's been accepted into a prestigious university to study Agricultural Biotechnology just like he has always wanted." She said, my heart was breaking into numerous pieces with each word she uttered.
“This is his chance to change the world, to make a difference. Do you really want to be the one to ruin that?" She ended, giving me a look of disgust.
My fingers trembled as I opened the envelope. I stared at the words on the page, it was clearly a step into the future that had once seemed so far out of Nathan’s reach.
"But it's his child," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
The woman shook her head, her expression resolute. "Nathan doesn't need this kind of complication in his life, Olivia. He has so much potential, so many opportunities ahead of him." She reached across the table, grabbing my hand and squeezing it tightly. "Please, Livy... for Nate's sake, you have to do this."
My hand instinctively wrapped around my still flat belly. How could she ask me to do this? To get rid of the child I had already grown to love as a part of me and Nathan?
"I... I can't," I choked out, shaking my head. "I won't kill my child."
Desperation flashed in the older woman's eyes. "Livy, please," she begged. "My son would say the same if you ask him. He has waited for an opportunity like this all his life.”
"I need to talk to Nathan," I said, my voice trembling. "I need to hear it from him."
The woman hesitated, her grip on Olivia's hand tightening. "He isn't here,” she said, her voice strained. "But I can speak to Nathan when he's back."
“No need, I'll go to where I know I will find him today,” I said, standing up. I saw panic cloud her features as she stood up after me. She called out my name but I was already walking out the door.
I made my way towards the place where I knew I would find Nathaniel. I was past caring about how difficult it might be.
It had gotten dark and there were still no signs of Nathan at the riverbed.
I grudgingly walked back home, slamming the door behind me.
“You break it, you buy it Livy,” I heard my mum yell out from our small kitchen. I ignored her and walked up the stairs, into the little room I shared with my cousin who was away for the summer.
I paused in my tracks when my eyes landed on the brown parcel on my bed. It had Nathan’s scrawny signature at the bottom. A lump settled in my throat as I unwrapped it with shaky hands.
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