Chapter 5

• Two months had passed since that fateful night, and Maya had done everything in her power to put it behind her. She had buried herself in her studies, focusing on her finals. Every day, she reminded herself that her future was what mattered, not the betrayal she’d endured. Luke and Claire had quickly become the new couple on campus, parading their relationship for everyone to see. But Maya managed to avoid them, keeping her head down and concentrating on what she had to do. She was determined not to let them ruin her life.
• Yet, lately, things had started to feel… off. For the past few weeks, she had been waking up feeling queasy. Every morning, a wave of nausea would hit her, forcing her to sit at the edge of her bed, waiting for the sickness to pass. She tried to dismiss it, blaming it on stress or lack of sleep. After all, finals were only days away, and she couldn’t afford to fall ill now.
• That morning, the nausea hit her harder than ever. Maya groaned, clutching her stomach, hoping the feeling would fade. She took deep breaths, willing herself to push through. She didn’t have time for this. She needed to get to campus, meet Jane, and go over her notes one last time.
• After forcing herself through her morning routine, Maya arrived at school, feeling a little shaky. She spotted Jane waiting for her near the library, her face lighting up when she saw her.
• “Maya, hey!” Jane greeted her with a smile, then paused, her face shifting to concern. “Are you okay? You look… sick.”
• Maya forced a smile, trying to brush it off. “I’m fine, really. Just a bit stressed, that’s all.”
• But before she could finish her sentence, a wave of dizziness washed over her. The world around her blurred, sounds becoming distant echoes. She felt herself falling, everything going dark.
• When Maya opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed was the stark white ceiling above her. She blinked, confusion flooding her senses. Where was she? The scent of antiseptic hit her nose, and she realized she was in a hospital room. Panic began to rise within her. How had she ended up here?
• “Maya?” Jane’s voice came from beside her, soft and filled with worry. Maya turned her head, seeing her friend sitting by her side, clutching her hand.
• “Jane… What happened?” Maya asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
• “You fainted, Maya. Right there on campus. You scared me half to death!” Jane’s face was a mixture of worry and relief. “They brought you here to make sure you were okay.”
• Just then, a doctor entered the room, a clipboard in her hands. She offered Maya a gentle smile. “Good to see you awake, Maya. How are you feeling?”
• Maya managed a small nod. “A bit… disoriented, but okay, I think.”
• The doctor glanced down at her clipboard, then back at Maya with a look of sympathy. “Well, Maya, I have some news for you. It appears that you’re two months pregnant.”
• The words hit her like a ton of bricks. Pregnant? Her mind reeled, struggling to process what the doctor had just said. The memory of that night with Jack flashed through her mind, the unexpected, intense connection they had shared. But no—this couldn’t be happening. Not now, not during finals. She felt her vision blur again, her heart pounding in her chest.
• “No… no, this can’t be…” she stammered, looking up at the doctor, her face pale.
• The doctor’s expression softened. “I understand this may be a shock. We’ll give you some time to absorb the news.”
• Before Maya could respond, the weight of the revelation hit her again, harder this time. Her mind spun, the room tilted, and once again, everything went black.
• When she came to again, she found Jane holding her hand, her face filled with concern. “Maya, you fainted again,” Jane whispered, squeezing her hand gently. “Are you okay?”
• Maya stared at the ceiling, her mind racing, her body numb. Pregnant. She was pregnant. With Jack’s child. The stranger she had shared a night with, the man who had disappeared without a trace. She didn’t even know where he was, didn’t even have a way to contact him. And now… now she was carrying his child.
• “I… I don’t know what to do, Jane,” Maya whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. I was just trying to forget, to move on.”
• Jane pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly as Maya cried, her friend’s steady presence comforting her. “It’s okay, Maya. We’ll figure this out. You’re not alone.”
• Maya clung to her friend, feeling a mixture of fear, confusion, and despair. She had worked so hard to put that night behind her, to focus on her future. And now, everything was changing in ways she couldn’t control.
• When she finally calmed down, she pulled away from Jane, wiping her tears. “What am I going to do, Jane? I can’t… I can’t be a mother. I’m not ready.”
• Jane took her hand, her voice gentle but firm. “Maya, you don’t have to decide everything right now. Take it one step at a time. Focus on what you need to do today, and we’ll figure out the rest as it comes.”
• Maya nodded, taking a deep breath. She didn’t know what the future held, but Jane was right. She didn’t have to face it all at once. She had a support system, people who cared about her, and maybe—just maybe—she would find a way through this.
• The doctor returned a few minutes later, her expression kind. “Maya, I understand this is a lot to take in. I’ll give you some information about prenatal care, and you’re welcome to come back anytime if you need guidance or support.”
• Maya nodded, barely hearing the doctor’s words. Her mind was still reeling, her heart heavy. She took the pamphlets the doctor handed her, staring at them without really seeing them.
• As Jane helped her gather her things, Maya felt a strange mixture of fear and resilience. She wasn’t sure how she was going to navigate this new path, but she knew one thing: she wouldn’t let this define her. She had survived heartbreak, betrayal, and pain. She would survive this too.