New problems
1200 Words
Emilia's point of view
I was seated on the cold toilet seat, my heart racing as I stared at the pregnancy test strip in my trembling hands. Two lines. Two unmistakable lines stared back at me, confirming what I had dreaded yet hoped was untrue.
I had been feeling weak and lightheaded in the last couple of weeks. I took a few over-the-counter medications, but they were no good. I didn't have enough money to go to the hospital for a checkup. I had spent my last money on urgent college bills. I still owed a few debts, so money was hard to spare.
Last week, I was constantly nauseous and spent most mornings in the bathroom stall, retching my intestines out. I also noted that my period was late so, with much dread, I got these tests from the pharmacy.
Tears pooled in my eyes, blurring my vision as I stared at the result. This was the fifth test I'd taken, and each one had yielded the same result.
“No, no, no,” I whispered to myself, shaking my head as if I had made the truth disappear. My hands trembled as I gripped the test tighter, the plastic digging into my palm. How could this happen? Not when I was about to graduate. Not when I was still trying to figure out my life. Noo!
A persistent knock echoed through the bathroom door, jolting me from my thoughts. “Em? Are you okay in there?” It was Elsa, her voice laced with concern.
“I’m coming!” I managed to squeak out, feeling my heart hammer wildly. I quickly shoved the pregnancy strip into the pocket of my baggy sweatpants and wiped a few stray tears.
Taking a deep breath to compose myself, I opened the door to find Elsa standing there, worry etched across her face. The moment our eyes met, I felt the dam break. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I fell into Elsa’s arms.
“Oh my God, Emilia! What’s wrong?” Elsa exclaimed, wrapping her arms around her tightly and rubbing her back in tender strokes.
“I—I don’t know what to do,” I sobbed, burying my face in Elsa’s shoulder.
“Whatever it is, I'm here for you. We are going to find a way around it. Don't cry.” She said, rubbing my back with tender strokes.
After a few minutes, I managed to stop crying and Elsa released me. “Sorry about your shirt.”
Elsa waved me off, “Don't worry about it. You're worth more than five shirts to me.”
“Five Chanel Shirts?” I teased, an attempt at a joke.
“Except that,” she replied, making me smile. The smile vanished immediately.
“What is it? Are you ready to talk about it now? Or do I have to get you drunk and watch you spill?”
I scowled, “I'm never getting drunk in my life ever again. The one time I decided to let my hair down and let loose, look where it landed me.” I cringed at the memory of the shots I had downed that night just so I could get out of my shell.
Elsa stared at me quizzically, “You never gave me the full details of what happened that night, Em.”
“I slept with a total stranger, that's what! Nothing special.” I blurted out.
Elsa smirked, “Wow! It’s good hearing you admit it out loud. You don't need to worry. That happens to me all the time at the club. ” Her face was creased in confusion, “But I don't get it. What does that have to do with you crying?”
“I.. I.” I stuttered, fiddling with my necklace.
“You what?”
“I’m pregnant.”
Elsa gasped, her shock mingling with empathy. “Oh, my God! Are you sure?”
I nodded, feeling the tears well up in my eyes again. “I took five tests this morning… and they all said the same thing.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” Elsa whispered, pulling me close again. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll figure this out together.”
…
Kelsey leaned against the bar, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she nudged me. “Come on. Just one drink.” We were seated at the usual café where we often hung out.
Elsa exchanged a glance with me. I felt my heart skip a beat. I had been avoiding this conversation, but Kelsey was relentless. Elsa sighed and decided it was time to spill the beans. “Kelsey, there’s something you need to know.”
“What is it?” Kelsey asked, her brow furrowing in curiosity.
“Emilia’s two months pregnant,” Elsa blurted out.
Kelsey’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. “Two months pregnant? Why didn’t you guys tell me?” She looked between us, her excitement morphing into curiosity as Elsa made a sign of zipping her lips and throwing away the key.
I shifted uncomfortably, unable to meet Kelsey’s gaze. “I—”
“How did it happen?” Kelsey pressed, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and intrigue.
“Leave it to you to get pregnant on your first social outing among the elites,” she added, rolling her eyes. “Ever heard of protection?”
Elsa shot Kelsey a mean look. Kelsey shrugged, “So you mean to tell me that you have a life growing inside of you?”
“Yeah,” I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes. “I can’t believe it myself.”
Kelsey raised an eyebrow, glancing at my baggy t-shirt. “That explains the wardrobe change lately. What are you going to do about it? We have exams in a few weeks! How are you going to handle that stress with this?”
My heart sank as I felt the weight of Kelsey’s words. “I don’t know,” I admitted, “I don’t even know the first thing about taking care of a baby. Where am I even going to get the money?”
Elsa shot Kelsey another look, silently urging her to be more sensitive and not make me tear up further. Kelsey was undeterred, leaning in eagerly. “That’s where the baby’s dad comes in! Who is he?”
There it was. The question I'd been avoiding. It was worse when I'd been seeing him in my dreams since that night, but those dreams froze once reality hit. Nowadays, my thoughts constantly drift towards him - wondering whether he ever thought of me as much as I did or if I was just another notch on his bedpost. How could I be so stupid?
“I…He..” I stuttered.
“Spill it out!”
“Kelsey?” Elsa chided.
“I don't know who he is,” I replied, cringing at how pathetic I sounded. “I'm going to raise this baby on my own.”
Elsa gasped, “What?!”
Kelsey facepalmed. “Oh dear Lord!”
I felt the shame course through my veins, making me shrink back in disbelief.
- Writer
