like a beacon against Lana's pale complexion. Her hands trembled as she stared at i

as pr

s rea

d aversions, missed periods-but had rejected the possibility as a pipe

little life growing within her. A heartbeat. The

ould she

e be f

t, indi

loose, and his shirt was half unbuttoned. Lana waited for him at the kitch

ed at her. "Wha

" she said gently. "We s

"What now?" Additional bills? Let

thering her streng

le

hed-hard, unpleasant, and u

ook two tests. "I a

s jaw clenched. "You ha

m no

s voice rose. "Are you attempting t

did not int

think I am stupid?" Do you think I do not understand how girls like you

e, Mark, and i

this! I did not sig

yet raised his hand. But she detected a terrifying flash

stomach. "I assumed you would want to

might heal us? Lana, you can not even fix yourself."Look at you-work

t!" she said, surp

d closer. "Your

flin

I will hit you?""Are you going t

bled. "All I

ld not have sp

r eyes. She turned and dashed into the bedroom, shutting the door be

She was not sure which hurt more: his statements or th

awakened to find Mar

dirty dishes and an unsettling silence. Lana sat o

alone, a

advised her against marrying Mark. "He is too gorgeous to be honest," she would sa

ht she

ding shirts, filling out orders, and heating suits. However, her

ally. "You do not look

ained grin. "J

have an appointme

for his remembrance.

check-up. This was her f

k with shaky hands. The nurse who called her in had a l

your first?"

nod

s. Do you have

d, "No." "It

ook and stroked her arm. "It i

ealthy. Lana could hear the minuscule heartbeat, which was rapid and flutte

at dimly lit room that she

o

as sitting on the couch, a drink in ha

at first. She was

y said, "are you r

is a baby."

er. Just do not exp

But I will become a mother. W

ou can handle tha

ndle everythi

"You are not superior to me, L

explained gently. "I

ing me." "Do you think you ca

nt him," she said.

You do not get to

ild," she said, moving

ed her wri

houte

pleaded, her v

pain?" he yelled. "You do

er and slammed the door so

clutching her injured wrist a

ainst the door. For the first time, she allowed

eded t

or he

the

every extra shift she could find and began hiding money-tucking it into old envelopes

ly neighbour, noticed her

ney?" she said

stating,

u appear to have been exi

e somethi

ears running down her cheeks. "I

arms without hesitation,

ave to stay." You deserved bette

e no nowhe

til you find somewhere sa

eline. Sometimes, that was enou

Mark reappeare

"Do you think anyone notices when you go crying at

her stomach protectively. "

e better than me now?"Are you a shining

just wa

and make everythi

the wall be

id not

looked at him, una

may shout. You may blame me for anything.

"You are nothi

, going past him. "I

ked tha

e newborn clothes. They

oor just after midnight, her

y?" the elder

nod

time in my li