Unintended Consequences

Ashley sat staring at the positive test, her mind numb as she tried to process the news. Six weeks had passed since her encounter with Jordan, and she had been trying to push the thoughts of that day to the back of her mind. But now, as she gazed at the small white stick in her hand, she knew that she couldn't ignore it any longer. She was pregnant. The word echoed in her mind like a mantra, and Ashley felt like she was going to be sick. She thought about all the what-ifs, all the possibilities that had run through her mind that day. What if she got pregnant again? What if she wasn't ready for another child? As she sat there, frozen in shock, she heard a knock at the bathroom door. "Mommy, I'm hungry," Theo's small voice called out. Ashley felt a pang of guilt and worry. How was she going to tell him? How was she going to explain to her 4-year-old son that he was going to have a new sibling? She took a deep breath and slowly got up from the bathroom floor. She wiped away the tears that had been streaming down her face and tried to compose herself. She opened the door to find Theo standing there, looking up at her with big brown eyes. "Hey, buddy," Ashley said, trying to sound normal. "Mommy's just getting something. What do you want to eat?" Theo thought for a moment before responding, "I want a sandwich, Mommy." Ashley forced a smile and nodded. "Okay, sweetie. Let's go make a sandwich." As they walked into the kitchen, Ashley couldn't help but feel like her life was spinning out of control. She was 17, a single mother of one, and now she was pregnant again. What was she going to do? She pushed the thoughts aside and focused on making Theo's sandwich. But as she handed him his lunch, she couldn't shake off the feeling that her future was uncertain. And as she looked at Theo, she knew that she had to think about more than just herself now. She had to think about her son, and the new life growing inside of her. As they sat down to eat, Ashley's phone rang. She hesitated for a moment before answering it. She knew it was probably Karen, calling to check in on her about the job placement. But as she saw the name on the screen, her heart sank. It was Jordan. Ashley's hand trembled as she hesitated, wondering what she was going to say to him. She knew that she had to tell him about the pregnancy, but she was scared. Scared of his reaction, scared of what it would mean for their future. With a deep breath, Ashley steeled herself and answered the phone. "Hello?"