Victoria's Run

She blinked once. Twice. But the results didn't change. She was pregnant. She sat on the closed lid of the toilet in the small upstairs bathroom, her back pressed against the co

ening, she thought

ck. Crying won't change anything. She had known deep down, over a week. The nausea in the mornings, the fatigue, the missed period. She had denied i

breathed in slowly. Ok

king moments between classes, holding hands when no one was looking, texting late into the night with whispered

wanted to

n his back on her. Not Charles. He was charming, c

gh

ale and tired. Her curly hair falling in loose disarray around her face. She barely recognized herself. With a deep breath, she

arking lot, arms crossed, phone in hand. He wore that confident sm

he approached. "H

u." She said, trying t

hone, straighteni

moment that would divide her

pre

ng in the ai

nked.

s time stronger. "I'

e in the trees overhead. Charles rubbed the back

you a

't smile

irk fell away, replaced by a g

. "What do you me

l mostly. You probably messe

aven't. I haven't bee

getting involved in this.

hought possible. She didn't cry

t's yours. Don't do

ay, heading for the drivers s

test hidden under her pillow, like a dirty secret. Her parents move

of the week,

ted up the stairs. "Vic

e called back, voice

s a few seconds later. Her mot

okay, swe

, Mom. Ju

a pause

Y

then, sle

he pillow. The tears came freely now, silent and unstoppable. S

ents chatted about the local news. Her father was in his usual button down shirt, ready for the office, h

as almost surreal. How could the worl

g" her mother noted, glancing at

eep well," V

g up," her f

ateful for the

aper, "Your future depends on

ed in her lap. T

aughed and joked in the hallway, but their words barely reached her. She sat through

Would they call her names? Would they whisper

nking, as if trying to protect the tiny life sh

s small library, one of the few places that had ever felt peaceful. The librari

, hiding from a future that felt like a trap. She longed for a best frie

ng. Her parents were already at the dinner

en? I called your

mumbled, hang

ur phone?" her father

n't he

with her mother. "Sit

sank. Did

g his glasses off. "She said your teachers are concerned.

helmed," she said.

ld anymore, Victoria. You have respo

the truth, I'm pregnant and alone and terr

ver lied to her parents before, not like this. But the thought of her fa

had to

parents sat in the living room, her

," She said, standing

oth lo

r mom asked, sensing t

reath so deep it

pregn

followed was shar

opped into her lap. Her

ou just say

epeated, her voice ba

d her mouth, eyes

father demande

arl

fed. "T

to do with it," she said

ch. "You let some boy ruin your life and now

I j

ssed us. What will people say when they find out my daughte

ia's eyes. "I didn't p

tly now, whispering pr

. Then, suddenly, he spoke again, voic

blinked

onor. Someone who will take you i

ase. Mom say

ed at her crying, no

o refuse. You ga

pounding. "You can't force me

ye. "You've made your choices. Now

a stared out the window at the d

e older. Someone she didn't love. A

thought. They won't see me.

losed her eyes. This baby doesn't de

e. But in the moment ,Victoria knew one t