The beginning of a redemption story.

This is the beginning of a story that I started writing. Let me know what you think! 

I cried. Actually, I sobbed in front of this total stranger who didn’t even know my full name. 

“Pregnant?” The cracked sound of my voice proved my emotion.

“Yes, six weeks.” The nurse didn’t even make eye contact with me. Her voice, flat and dull, said “You stupid girl. Stop being so irresponsible.” I’d heard it all before. Don’t do this, don’t do that. If only the people who told me actually cared. 

“What--what do I do now?” The whisper was barely audible and wasn’t met for anyone to answer, but of course Judgmental Nurse just loved to take this opportunity to rant on and on about teens sleeping together, getting pregnant, the family never lasting, the next generation failing, and how the world is going to die because of my generation...

I don’t think it’s been a good day for either of us. 

I pick up my light jacket and rush out of the free clinic. I don’t even know where I am going because the water in my eyes is blurring my vision. I know I don’t have much time to get to my car before I have an emotional breakdown. I break out of the confinement of the clinic and sprint to my lime green hippie van. There, I know I can calm myself and drive home to where my father will be passed out on the couch from his latest hang over. I reach my van and climb in the front seat just in time. I let the hot tears fall and remember the girl my dad brought home last night. Hopefully she doesn’t try to steal anything. I instinctively reach and finger my mother’s wedding ring that was about stolen last week. I caught my father’s lady friend eyeing it. I wanted to scream at her to stay away. The only token I have left of my mother hangs around my neck on a chain, and I’m not willing to let a single soul take it away from me.

I started my car, pushing my raw emotion behind me and trying not to think about it. After all, nothing is that different yet. I just have to last long enough until my father finds out and hopefully remembers so I don’t have to explain and be punished more than once.