Maya picked up her phone again to check it. Matt had said he was going to call, but he hadn’t. He hadn’t in days, in fact. She’d tried calling him and texting, but he hadn’t responded. She wondered if somehow, she had the wrong number since he’d never responded from it.

As the days turned to a week, she realized that she had no way to contact him. He knew where she worked and lived. She didn’t know either thing about him. And if the phone number she had for him was wrong, then there was nothing she could do but hope he would show up.

After two weeks of not hearing from him, Maya was upset just at the thought of Matt. Everything he’d said had been a lie. He didn’t want to be with her. He’d slept with her and used her and now he was gone. She felt ashamed and stupid for falling for it. For thinking she could love him and be with him. For thinking they had something special.

All she could do was try to forget him and move on. It hurt, but the days that passed made it hurt a little less. She’d made a mistake, and now she had to live with the heartache from it. She’d be more careful next time.

Weeks later, she woke up and rushed to the bathroom to throw up. She thought she was just getting sick. Clinicals had been difficult and she was exposed to a lot of people and illnesses. It was common for new and training nurses to be sick often.

But the illness lasted for days and only seemed to affect her in the morning. She had a feeling once she considered all her symptoms, but she’d denied it for days. When it got to the point that she couldn’t lie to herself any longer, she drove to the store to buy a test.

Sitting in her bathroom alone, she thought about what she’d do if it was positive. She had no way to get ahold of him. Should she keep it?

When the time was up, she picked up the stick. Her hand shook as she looked down at two lines. Positive.

The rest of the day passed in a daze. She went to school and did her work, but all she could think about was the tiny creature tagging along with her. She’d learned about the medical side of pregnancy and knew what an abortion involved. She didn’t think she could go through with it. Hard as it would be, she would have the baby. She’d always planned on having kids, even if it was a little sooner than she anticipated and the situation wasn’t exactly ideal.

Nurses made good money, though, and the local hospital had a daycare for its employees. With her aunt’s help, she could do this.

Maya drove home after school, feeling better and more determined now that she had a plan. At a stop light, she looked over at the car beside her. She wasn’t sure at first, but the more she looked, she knew.

Matt was in the backseat of an expensive car. At first, Maya was excited to see him. A woman was with him and she was running her hands all over him. His neck, his chest, his thigh. The car pulled away when the lights changed and Maya lost sight of him. But she’d seen enough. Her excitement turned to anger and jealousy.

So that was it. He slept with her and then moved onto someone else. Fine. She’d keep the baby a secret and raise him or her on her own. Matt didn’t want to be involved, so he wouldn’t be.

When Aunt Beth returned home a few days later, Maya made her dinner and sat her down.

“I have some exciting news,” Maya said as she scooped rice onto her aunt’s plate.

“Oh?” Aunt Beth beamed at her.

“I’m pregnant.”

Aunt Beth’s smile fell. “Pregnant?”

“Yup.” Maya smiled. “A few weeks now.”

“I thought you said you had good news.”

“It is good news. Having a baby will be a fun adventure.”

Aunt Beth shook her head. “No, no. You’re too young to have a baby now. Why would you want to do that and ruin your whole life? You’re not married. Who’s the father?”

“Just some boy. I lost touch with him.”

“So, you’re going to have a baby all on your own.”

“I was hoping you’d help me some.” Maya took her seat and explained about the daycare.

“I think you should have an abortion. You’re not prepared for this.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Well then, I think you should find a new place to live.”

Maya’s jaw dropped open. “You’re kicking me out?”

“Only if you plan to bring a baby into this house. I won’t have it.”

“Aunt Beth! Please! Don’t do this.”

“I stayed single and without children for a reason. I never wanted them. I took you in because you were older and had nowhere else.”

“I still have nowhere else!”

“Then don’t have this baby. You can stay here if you have an abortion.”

Maya dashed from the kitchen, tears filling her eyes. She had to decide. Homeless with a baby, or kill her child and stay here.