(A MONTH LATER)
Tears clouded in Charlotte eyes, her vision became blurry and she shook her head hoping it’s not what she’s thinking, she held the test results tenderly and fearfully.
She lifted her head up and looked at the doctor, “Dr. Sean, it’s not what I’m thinking right? Tell me this is a typo, it isn’t mine right?” She asked as tears dropped on the paper.
Dr. Sean breathed out and lean forward to her, “I have been your family doctor since you were little, I can’t give you a wrong results- it’s yours, You’re 3weeks pregnant,” He confirmed once again.
Charlotte felt her walls broken down, her eyes flood with tears and her head bangs continuously, this has to be a dream. She can’t be pregnant!
“Dr. Sean, I-I can’t, I can’t keep this baby, doc. I barely had three square meals daily…talk-more of feeding a baby, doc,” She shuttered with trembling lips.
Dr Sean furrowed his eyebrows, “Charlotte, Don’t tell me you’re thinking about aborting it?” He asked and Charlotte quickly cleanse her tears, she lean forward.
“Will that work? I,,I don’t want a child now, doc,” She instantly said.
“No, Charlotte. You can’t abort it. Remember you got an appendix surgery recently and it’s way too dangerous to do anything for now,” Dr Sean told her and she started crying again.
“This is so unfair!” She cried out.
“Have you discussed it with Natalie? She should know about this-“
“Don’t, Don’t tell her about my pregnancy, she’s the cause of all these. She must not know,” Charlotte cut him off firmly.
“But Charlotte, she’s the only one you can trust now, She’s your stepmother,” Dr Sean told her but she scoffed and cleanse her tears taking the test results into her bag.
She sprang up, “I will know my way around it- don’t worry about it,” With that she left.
Charlotte walked out of the hospital premises, she dialed Elaine’s number but it went into voicemail after the third ring, she breathed out and put the phone back into her bag.
She waved at a cab, “Winter Street,” she told the cab man and drove way.
Throughout the ride, she did nothing but blame herself for that night she had a one night stand with that grey eyed guy.
15minutes later, the cab dropped her off at her destination area, “Back into this hellish house,” Charlotte muttered as she looked at the house at her front, she walked in.
“Where have you been!” The voice of her stepmother, Natalie growl in the air. Charlotte simply turned.
“I’m coming from the hospital, I told you I’m having a severe headache since last night, I went to Dr Sean,” Charlotte explained in a polite manner.
“I told you to use the drugs in the first aid-box! Why did you fucking waste my money seeing a doctor over a meaningless thing!” Natalie yelled while Charlotte balled her fist.
“Those drugs aren’t for headaches and if they are, self medication isn’t my style!” Charlotte yelled back.
Suzan who has been standing behind them scoffed, “Wow, you little rat , you’ve become so bold, yelling back at mom!” She snapped at her.
Charlotte rolled her eyes and turned to her, “That’s rich coming from someone who has been sleeping around with Williams, Don’t test me Suzan!” Charlotte growled
Suzan narrowed her eyes, “You don’t deserve him that’s why he left you for me! I deserve him!” Suzan fired back while tears rolled out of Charlotte’s eyes.
“Yes, You don’t deserve that rich guy, so back off!” Natalie added as well.
Charlotte cleanse the tears hastily, “Yeah. I have forgotten who you’re, I pray you get back exactly what I got, Excuse me,” With that Charlotte went into her room.
Charlotte drag out her box from under her bed, she started packing up few clothes into the box, she finished doing that and went to her bank-book. “$23,500?” She whispered and looked down at her stomach, she rub it gently.
She sprang up on her feet and looked around her room, “Mom, you told me never to leave this house but I’m afraid I, I can’t keep that promise anymore- I’m leaving,” She said to herself and took the box and walked out.
****
Charlotte reached Elaine’s house, with her box beside her-for now, Elaine is the only person she could rely on. “Have some tea,” Elaine offered her a cup of tea.
Charlotte took it and sip it, “Thank you, I’m really grateful,” She muttered.
“So,,,You’re,,Er, Pregnant?” Elaine shuttered while Charlotte nodded in response. “You’re going to be a mom? Girl, I’m so happy for you!” Elaine exclaimed with giggles.
She noticed the look on Charlotte’s face, she was forced to ask, “what? Aren’t you happy? Is it because it’s the result of a one night stand? Do you even remember his face?”
Charlotte nod slowly, “I, remember him so well but does it count? I’m literally forced him to sleep with me, I should face the consequences,” She added while Elaine moved closer and embraced her into her arms.
“I believe everything happened for a reason, isn’t it?” Elaine whispered softly while Charlotte cried on her shoulders.
After few minutes, they pulled away. “You can stay here with me till you find a place to stay,” Elaine told her
“What about your parent?” Charlotte asked and Elaine sprang up.
“I will quickly talk to them, they will agree,” with that she dashed into her parent room.
“What?! You know how we are feeding and you want to accommodate a pregnant woman? Elaine have you gone crazy!” Elaine’s mom yelled as soon as she brought the topic to her.
“Mom.. you know Charlotte, don’t do this to her?” Elaine pleaded
“Your mom is right, Elaine. We can’t accommodate her, it’s going to be inconvenient for us,” Her Dad chipped in as well.
Elaine furiously dashed out but only to meet Charlotte at the entrance of the room, with her eyes filled with tears, she heard everything.
“Char-“
Charlotte quickly shook her head, “No, Please don’t feel bad okay? I, understand. I will go sleep at the sauna tonight,” She said and went to pick up her bag.
Elaine quickly ran to her, “Charlotte, I’m sorry. Here,” She stretch out a paper to her. “Go there, Fridan City. It’s 5hours drive to there. My aunt stays there, she’s going to accommodate you.” Elaine offered.
Charlotte bat her eyelashes falling off the tears, “T-thank, Thank you.” With that Charlotte left the house.
She checked the address on the paper once again, “Fridan City,,,,” she changed her route to get a night ticket. “A new beginning I guess,”