"A New Reality"

Ashley nodded, her mind racing with the implications of Gerald's words. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice soft. Gerald took a deep breath, his eyes searching hers. "I mean, we're young. We're not married. We don't have a stable job or a house. How are we going to take care of a baby?" Ashley's heart sank. She had been expecting him to be upset, but she hadn't expected him to bring up all the practical concerns. "We can figure it out," she said, trying to sound confident. "We can get a bigger apartment, and I can go back to school part-time. You can work more hours." Gerald shook his head. "I don't know, Ash. I love you, but I'm not sure I'm ready for this. I'm not sure I want to be a father." Ashley felt a pang of hurt. She had expected him to be hesitant, but she hadn't expected him to say that. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Gerald sighed. "I mean, I'm not sure I'm ready to give up my freedom. I'm not sure I want to be tied down to a baby and a mortgage and a 9-to-5 job. I like our life the way it is." Ashley felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. She had been so excited about the possibility of having a baby, and now it seemed like Gerald wasn't on the same page. "But I want to be a mother," she said, her voice shaking. "I want to have a family with you." Gerald looked at her, his eyes filled with concern. "I know, Ash. And I want that too. But we need to think about what's best for both of us. We can't just rush into this without thinking it through." Ashley nodded, feeling a sense of uncertainty. She knew Gerald was right. They needed to think about their future, and what this meant for them. But a part of her was scared. Was Gerald going to change his mind about the baby? Was he going to want to give it up for adoption or have an abortion? The doctor came back into the room, a kind smile on her face. "I see you two are having a discussion," she said. "That's completely normal. It's a lot to take in." Ashley nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards the doctor. She knew she needed to talk to Gerald, to figure out what he was thinking and feeling. And she needed to think about what she wanted too. The doctor continued, "Let's talk about the next steps. We can schedule an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy and estimate the due date. We can also discuss your prenatal care and what to expect." Ashley nodded, feeling a sense of relief. At least they could focus on the practical things, and put off the bigger conversation for a little while longer. As the doctor left, Gerald turned to her. "I'm sorry, Ash. I know this isn't what you wanted to hear." Ashley looked at him, her eyes searching his. "What do you want to do?" she asked, her voice soft. Gerald took a deep breath. "I want to take some time to think about it. Can we do that? Can we take some time to figure out what we want to do?" Ashley nodded, feeling a sense of uncertainty. She knew they needed to think about their future, and what this meant for them. But a part of her was scared. What if they couldn't come to an agreement? What if this changed everything between them? As they sat there in silence, Ashley realized that their conversation was just beginning. They had a long road ahead of them, and she had no idea where it would lead.