Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23113 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23113 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
“It’s beautiful!” I murmur, turning to see if Jordan’s looking too. But instead, the soldier’s gazing at me and I shiver hotly.
“Yes, it is,” he says in a low voice while leaning in for a kiss, blue eyes adoring. Then, the ride begins to move again, slowly returning us to the carnival floor, but I’ve never been happier. With this man at my side, I have everything in the world, and contentment washes over my form.
7
Misty
I’m standing in the bathroom off the foyer with the door wide open. It’s the first time I’ve been back in my own house in weeks, and I feel a little nervous being here alone. It’s irrational, because I’ve been home alone multiple times over the years. But I’ve grown accustomed to having a man in the house, and it’s strange to be in this enormous space without Jordan.
But it’s not just the solitude. I’m nervous because things have been off with me lately, and I think I know why. After all, Jordan and I have been making love non-stop all summer. We use protection but sometimes it’s so hot that we get caught up in the moment. Okay, that’s happened more than a few times. We’ve slipped up quite a lot and skipped putting the condom on, to my current chagrin.
After all, I’m two weeks late. My boobs are tender to the touch and I swear they’re growing. Now, there’s only one thing to be done. I stare impatiently at the pregnancy test in my hand, waiting for it to show me a negative sign or a plus sign. What will it be?
I’m scared that I might be pregnant, but deep down I kind of hope I am. That’s probably the most frightening part because what high school girl wants to be a mother? I haven’t even started my senior year yet!
But I’m in love with Jordan and would love to bear his child. Our relationship may be taboo seeing as I’m only eighteen, whereas he’s a mature, hardened solider. But if I’m pregnant, our baby would be cherished and well-loved. And what could be more beautiful than that?
Suddenly, I hear the snick of the front door behind me. Confused, I spin around to face the entryway. I didn’t even bother to close the bathroom door because the solitude was so creepy.
My parents won’t be home for another week. It must be Jordan, right?
But to my horror, Susan and Mark breeze in the front door before me. They’re tan and happy, dragging their luggage with them.
“Hi honey!” Susan sings. “We’re baaaack! What have you been up to, sweetheart?”
But then, my parents see the pregnancy indicator in my hand, and their faces fall.
“Mom, Dad, welcome!” I begin, furiously trying to think of an explanation. But before I can speak, my mother darts over and snatches it from me.
“Hey!” I shout.
She looks at it, and then lips pressed together, she hands the indicator to my dad.
“You’re pregnant?” Mark asks, tossing the stick angrily onto the ground. Dad momentarily turns his attention to Mom. “That’s what a plus sign means, right? How do these things work?”
Susan turns to glare at me.
“Yes, that’s exactly what a plus sign means,” she hisses. “What did we do to raise such a whore?”
Now, this is unfair and I try to interrupt.
“Mom, Dad, I can explain,” I begin. But Mark’s not having it. He glares at me, an angry fire roaring in his eyes. In fact, I can barely recognize him, his expression is so twisted. It’s as if my father’s possessed by some kind of evil spirit that’s overtaken his form.
Before I can say anything, Mark grabs my arm, yanking it painfully.
“Ow! Daddy that hurts! What are you doing? Please, please let go!” He begins to drag me towards the lower level door. I am so incredibly bewildered and quickly become hysterical. What’s going on?
“Mom, help me!” I plead, tears streaming down. I try to pry Dad’s hand off of me, my arm pulsing in agony underneath. Susan is crying too, but she just stands there and watches as Daddy throws open the door before dragging me downstairs. He hurls me into a spare bedroom, and I tumble across the floor.
How could he do this? Has he no care for the baby? Doesn’t he realize I’m pregnant?
I desperately crawl to my father’s feet but then the door slams in my face, and I hear it lock from the other side.
Why is Mark trapping me in here? What’s gotten into him? What the hell? They can’t keep me a prisoner here!
I begin to pound on the door, and on the walls. I kick the door until my feet are swollen and I scream for help until my throat runs dry. I cry so hard it feels like my eyes have begun to bleed.