Uncertainty Looms

Ashley nodded, not knowing what to expect, her eyes fixed on Gerald's expressionless face. "What should we do?" she said, her voice wavering. Gerald leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together as he regarded Ashley with a thoughtful expression. "Well, first things first, we need to confirm the pregnancy," he said, his voice calm and detached. Ashley felt a surge of frustration at his response. Confirm the pregnancy? Was he kidding her? She had already taken a test, and she was pretty sure she was pregnant. But she pushed aside her annoyance and nodded. "I've already taken a test," she said. "I'm pretty sure I'm pregnant." Gerald nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "Okay, well, in that case, we need to discuss our options," he said. Ashley's heart sank at his words. Options? What did he mean by options? She had been hoping that Gerald would be supportive and understanding, but now she wasn't so sure. "What do you mean by options?" Ashley asked, her voice cautious. Gerald leaned forward, his elbows on his desk. "Well, we could consider getting married," he said, his voice smooth. "Or we could consider...other arrangements." Ashley's eyes widened in shock. Other arrangements? What was he talking about? She felt a wave of panic wash over her as she realized that Gerald was considering terminating the pregnancy. "Gerald, I don't think that's an option for me," Ashley said, her voice firm. "I'm not considering having an abortion." Gerald's expression turned thoughtful, and he nodded. "Okay, I understand," he said. "But we need to think about this carefully. We need to consider what's best for both of us." Ashley felt a surge of anger at his words. What's best for both of them? What about what's best for her? She was the one carrying the baby, after all. "I think we need to take a break and think about this," Ashley said, her voice firm. "Can I go now?" Gerald nodded, his expression still thoughtful. "Yeah, sure," he said. "Take all the time you need." Ashley stood up, her heart heavy with uncertainty. She had been hoping that Gerald would be supportive and understanding, but now she wasn't so sure. As she turned to leave, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror on Gerald's desk. Her eyes looked haunted, and her face was pale. She felt like her whole world had been turned upside down. As she walked out of Gerald's office, Ashley couldn't shake the feeling that she was in for a wild ride.