Confronting the Unspoken

"Ashley, we still need to talk about that phone," Karen said, as she began to serve dinner. Ashley hesitated, her eyes darting around the room. She knew she had to tell Karen the truth, but she was scared. "Karen, can we talk?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Karen put down the serving spoon and walked over to the table. "Of course, sweetie, what's going on?" she asked, concern etched on her face. Ashley took a deep breath and let it all out. "It's not just about the phone, Karen. I did something, and I need to tell you about it." Karen's expression turned serious, and she sat down across from Ashley. "What is it, Ashley? You can tell me anything." Ashley hesitated, her eyes welling up with tears. "I... I did something with a guy," she whispered, her voice cracking. Karen's eyes widened, and she leaned forward. "What kind of something?" she asked, her voice a bit too loud. Ashley cringed, feeling a surge of embarrassment. "Sex," she whispered, her eyes dropping to the floor. The room fell silent, and Ashley could feel Karen's shock. She looked up, and Karen's eyes were wide with surprise and concern. "Ashley, oh sweetie," Karen said, her voice softening. "Are you... are you okay?" Ashley shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I think I'm pregnant," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Karen's expression changed from shock to concern, and she reached out to Ashley. "Oh, Ashley, we need to get you to a doctor. We need to make sure you're okay." Ashley nodded, feeling a wave of fear wash over her. She had never thought about getting pregnant, and now that it was a possibility, she was terrified. Karen pulled Ashley into a hug. "We'll get through this, sweetie. We'll figure it out together." As they hugged, Ashley couldn't help but think about the guy she had been with. She had been with him a few times, and she had assumed he was responsible. But now, she wasn't so sure. Karen pulled back and looked at Ashley. "We need to talk about this some more. But first, let's get you calmed down and then we'll figure out what to do next." Ashley nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She knew she had made a mistake, but with Karen's help, she was determined to make it right.