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“Wally, you can’t let them get the house. Please.”
“I can assure you Miss Washington, that’s in Dudley’s will too. They won’t be getting this house.”
“They’re smart Wally. They’re criminals. You’re underestimating them.”
“Criminals? Miss Washington—”
“Can you please just keep me updated on the sale? If it can’t go to Brenton, I’d like it to at least go to someone who will make a good neighbor to him.”
“Will do.”
I hung up with Wally rather curtly and went up to my bathroom. I sat by the toilet for some time, still queasy. Eventually I got up and pulled out a bottle of over the counter sleeping pills, knowing I wouldn’t get much rest without them. When I was grabbing the bottle it caught on a small package, sending it falling to the ground. I sighed and bent over to pick it up.
When I grabbed the package, my entire body froze. I looked at it with wide eyes, a doe stuck in headlights. It was my birth control. I quickly opened the cardboard envelope to count the pills left in it.
“Shit.”
I had missed several pills. I had totally forgotten to take them. Then, I remembered Brenton and I’s impromptu tent sex during our accidental camping trip. He hadn’t brought condoms, but I assured him I was on the pill. Ever since then, we hadn’t used a condom. I told him there was no need.
“Shit!” I screamed even louder. I opened the calendar on my phone and all hope I had sank to the bottom of my churning stomach. Time up in these hills had a way of standing still, and Brenton had a way of distracting me from real life. When I counted the days in my head, though, there was no denying it – I was late.
I rushed to my car without thinking twice. I was in pajamas and sandals, but I had no time to change. I aimed for the nearest gas station, which was about twenty miles away. I turned the radio’s volume up on full blast, hoping to tune out my panic. It didn’t work. I half-heartedly tried to bop my head to the music, but tears began flowing and then I was just rocking back and forth through the sobs.
The road was dark. My headlights were the only thing illuminating the path, making the yellow dividing lines glow and the dark pine trees cast shadows over the street. I sped up, going at least twenty over the speed limit, but I didn’t care. I needed answers and I needed them fast.
I pulled up to an empty gas station, parking haphazardly in two spots and running out of my car. The station was old, rust covering it’s red and white awning. Tears were streaming down my face as I searched the half empty shelves inside, praying this gas station sold pregnancy tests. Finally I found a small feminine hygiene section that housed a couple brands of tests. I grabbed several of each and ran to the front counter.
The man at the checkout was tall and lean, covered in tattoos. He looked me up and down in confusion.
“You alright, miss?”
“Never been better,” I spit back at him sarcastically as he rang up my five tests.
Clearly, I was having the worst night of my life. I looked down at my fuzzy slippers and my pink cheetah print nightgown. I noticed he had a mirror next to the register, but I didn’t even bother checking my appearance. I knew I looked like a crazy person. If I were wearing any mascara, it would be in a puddle on the floor by now, dripping down my face like sad clown makeup.
“Bathroom?” I asked as I paid for my tests.
He raised his eyebrows, but didn’t say a word. He pointed to the back right of the store and I ran.
I used all five tests at once, throwing each one in a paper bag when I was finished. Then, I made my way back to my car, not making eye contact with the cashier on my way out. I hoped I never ran into him again, not wanting to remember this night.
I sat in my parked car for a few moments, but decided that time was passing too slow, so I started the engine and began my drive home. By the time I was back, I knew the results should be showing. I downed my water and did some breathing exercises, but nothing could stop my body from uncontrollably shaking. I tried not to think about how bleak my life currently was. I had no job, no inheritance, and soon enough I’d have nowhere to live. Dudley’s house would be sold—to my family no doubt—and I wouldn’t be able to afford my city apartment unless I got a new job ASAP, let alone afford a child. This couldn't be happening to me.
I pulled into my driveway and debated looking at the tests right then, but I didn’t want to take any chances that Brenton might come outside and notice me. I ran into the house and sat down on the couch, slowly pulling out each test one by one.
By the time I got to test three, the tears had gathered. By test five, the tears were pouring down my face as I fought back uncontrollable sobs. It was unanimous. Whether words, lines, or symbols, they all pointed to one glaring fact – I was carrying Brenton’s child.
I was awoken the next morning by frantic knocks on my door. I shot up and looked around me, releasing a few soft sobs at the sight of all the pregnancy tests with two little pink lines on them. They were strewn about the living room floor. I must have fallen asleep between sobs.
The knocks continued, so I took a quick look in the mirror, but abandoned it when I realized my appearance couldn’t be helped. I stuffed all the tests back into the paper bag and shoved it underneath the couch. The doorbell was going off now.
“Jesus, I’m coming. I’m coming!”
I opened the door, and looked down. A small child, no older than five, was standing below me. He had brown hair and familiar bright blue eyes.
“Um, hello. Who are you?”
Was I dreaming? I hadn’t even taken the melatonin last night having been derailed by my life crisis.
