Without You.

Chapter One: Choices

The night air was cool and refreshing compared to the blazing hot sun from earlier that day. Tina sat in the passenger’s seat of her boyfriend’s truck with the window down, her hair flying with the wind. So many thoughts ran through her head that night, she placed her hand on her stomach; thinking about the life that was growing within of her. She looked at her boyfriend; they hadn’t spoken the whole ride home. She thought back to earlier that day, when she broke the news to him.

Mark had picked her up around noon to go out for the rest of the day. Earlier that morning she had just been to the doctor with her mother when she found out the news.

She was 16 and expecting.

Her mother was not happy at all about hearing this news. And yes Tina had wished this wasn’t happening so early in life; but she was ready to take responsibility for her actions, even though the thoughts of what laid in store for her in the near future scared her very much.

Mark took Tina down to the beach to meet up with a few of their friends and have a picnic. Tina tried to act normal as if nothing was on her mind. She seemed to be doing a good job because no one questioned her mood.

After they mingled with their friends and ate it was getting close to sunset. That’s when Tina decided she needed to take Mark aside and tell him the news.

“Mark, wanna take a walk with me? I really need to talk to you.” Tina asked.

“Sure babe.” Mark took off his sunglasses and put them on his head as the coupled walked away from the group hand in hand. Tina stayed silent as they walked, trying to find the right words, her heart racing a mile I minute. ‘Just tell him’ she said to herself.

“Mark…I went to the doctors today; remember I told you how I haven’t been feeling right the past few weeks?”

“Yeah…is something wrong?”

“Well…” Tina paused still trying to find the right words, but decided she just needed to come out with it. “…I’m pregnant.”

Mark stopped dead in his tracks and let go of Tina’s hand.