Pregnant?

Karen

I looked at Camila with a mix of emotions. Horror and happiness mingled within me as I absorbed the news, and I was soon rewarded with a strong, tight hug.

"You're going to be a mom, Karen!" my friend said softly, the emotion evident in her words.

"Yes..." It was all I could say. "I'm going to be a mother."

That word sounds so beautiful, but at that moment, it left me scared.

The magnitude of the word, "mother," resonated deeply within me. It's a role that carries immense responsibility, the gift of giving life and caring for another human being. The awe of the new reality began to blend with joy.

I couldn't understand how this could have happened. Othon and I used protection every time we had sex that night, but when my cycle was weeks late, I did not doubt taking a pregnancy test. Everything was happening in my life at that moment, and a pregnancy would only crown all those changes.

I wondered if I would be ready for this if I would be able to offer everything my future child deserved. Doubts and uncertainties surrounded me, but at the same time, a flame of determination arose within me, and I looked at Camila, finding support and comfort in her presence. Together, we will face this new phase of life, sharing the ups and downs that will inevitably come.

We had just received the result of the test, and when the doctor called me back into his office to convey some instructions, all I could do was smile. Nervously and happily. But when we got home, Camila asked the question I most feared at that moment.

"I imagine the father is the man you were with on our last night in Fernando de Noronha," It was more of a statement.

"Yes, he's the father of the child I'm expecting now," I confirmed with feigned calmness. "Max and I didn't stay together for more than a month before... before it ended."

"Do you have any idea who he is or where we can find him?"

I sighed with irritation.

I knew finding the father of the child wouldn't be an easy task. My connection with him was just one night of fun in Fernando de Noronha, and I don't know much about him besides some scattered information. We didn't have much time for small talk, I thought with disgust. Othon left me alone in the suite to deal with an "emergency." When his fiancée arrived at the suite, I quickly understood what emergency he had to attend to.

"I don't have much information about him. It was just one night, and I don't know if he's ready to take on this role."

Camila let out a slight sigh and looked at me with concern in her eyes. It was understandable that she was apprehensive about the situation; after all, we were dealing with an important responsibility.

"You need to try to find him, Karen. It's important that he knows about the child and has the opportunity to take on his responsibilities as a father. Even if your connection was just one night, it doesn't diminish the importance of that bond for your child."

I agreed with her. I knew she was right, but Camila had no idea what happened the next morning. My friend didn't know that Othon had a fiancée and that she was pregnant with him.

"I'll do my best, Camila. I can't promise it will be easy or that he'll be willing to take on his responsibilities, but I'll try to find him and talk about it."

Camila enveloped me in a hug, conveying support and understanding. I hugged her back, feeling grateful to have her by my side.

I felt awful for lying, but I still wasn't ready to reveal all the humiliation and embarrassment I experienced that next morning. Avoiding facing the pitying looks of the people around me was my intention. It was enough how everyone sympathized when I caught my fiancé with my ex-friend. Being made a fool of for the second time in less than a week seemed like an excess of bad luck for one human to bear.

Camila then advised me to face the situation head-on, even considering moving back in with my parents. She emphasized how challenging it would be to raise a baby alone and balance that with the exhausting work at the hospital. Deep down, I knew she was right, but the idea of facing my parents with the news was daunting.

"We'll be in this together, Karen. You're not alone."

*********

I ended up following Camila's advice, making the difficult decision to share the reality of my situation with my parents. The impact of the news wasn't the best. They didn't receive the revelation with much excitement, understandably. I would be a single mother and didn't even know where to find the father of my child, a fleeting memory from a night in Fernando de Noronha.

Telling my parents was an emotional challenge. They expressed concerns, and even though deep down I expected it, their reaction still hurt. However, I knew Camila was right, and I needed to face reality to ensure the best for me and my baby.

Several months passed since the whirlwind of events, and finally, the long-awaited moment arrived. Otávio was born healthy, bringing immense joy to my life and to all those who remained by my side.

My parents insisted that I should live with them, at least until the baby was of school age. We chose to sell our apartments and invest in a beautiful house in a peaceful neighborhood, with a spacious backyard to provide the little one with a childhood full of outdoor play. The decision to create this warm environment for Otávio further strengthened our family bond.

Camila proved to be an incredible friend, supporting me every step of this journey and staying by my side through it all. My parents completely changed their attitude after the birth of their grandson, and any reservations they may have had disappeared completely. The father of my child became a forbidden subject in my home, as well as in my circle of friends. Otávio was mine and no one else's.

Othon was left behind, and I never attempted to contact him, even though his phone number was still etched in my memory as a reminder of his lie. Othon is a big jerk, and I never want to see him again.