Fears and Doubts

Five months had passed since Ashley's life-changing doctor's appointment, and now, at 28 weeks pregnant, she sat beside Karen on the couch, her eyes wide with worry. "Can we talk?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sure, sweetie," Karen said, putting down the book she was reading and giving Ashley her full attention. Ashley took a deep breath, her shoulders trembling. "I'm scared," she admitted, her voice cracking. "About what?" Karen asked, reaching out to gently brush a strand of hair behind Ashley's ear. Ashley hesitated, her eyes welling up with tears. "About labor," she said, her voice barely audible. "About being a mom. I'm only 16, Karen. I'm not ready for this. And my real mom... she's not even here to help me." Karen's expression softened, and she wrapped her arms around Ashley, pulling her into a gentle hug. "You'll be an amazing mom, Ashley," she said, her voice filled with conviction. "And I'll be right here with you, every step of the way. We'll figure this out together, okay?" Ashley nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. She knew Karen would be there for her, but it was hard to shake off the feeling of being completely overwhelmed. She was still a teenager, and the thought of taking on the responsibilities of motherhood was daunting. "What if I mess it up?" Ashley asked, her voice muffled against Karen's shoulder. Karen pulled back and looked Ashley in the eye. "You won't mess it up," she said, smiling reassuringly. "You're going to be an incredible mom, and I'll be here to support you every step of the way. We'll take this one day at a time, okay?" Ashley nodded, feeling a small sense of comfort wash over her. She knew she could count on Karen, but she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Her own mom wasn't here to help her, to offer her guidance and support. It was just her and Karen, against the world. As they sat there in silence, Ashley felt Karen's hand on her belly, and she smiled weakly. She knew that in a few short months, she would be holding her baby in her arms, and the thought was both exhilarating and terrifying. "I'm scared, Karen," Ashley said again, her voice barely above a whisper. Karen smiled and pulled Ashley into another hug. "I'm scared too, sweetie," she said. "But we're in this together, and we'll face it together, okay?"