“What’s this?” Bobby entered the living room, holding up the plastic stick so the two pink lines were visible to everyone.

Dad’s face darkened. “Where did you get that?”

“I knocked Kay’s trash can over with my ball, and this fell out.”

All eyes turned to Kay, who shrank down into her chair, willing it to swallow her. Dad started trembling, and Mom’s face drained of all color. Kay couldn’t even bear to look at the pastor and his wife. After what seemed like an eternity, Mom broke the palpable silence, answering Bobby.

“It’s nothing, dear. Go put it back in the trash, please.” She turned back to her guests, not missing a beat. “Now, who would like more tea?”

Pastor Ed turned to his wife, who shook her head. “No more for us, thanks,” he replied. “Thank you for a delicious dinner. I think we’d better be going.”

They rose from their seats, and Kay stole away to her room, heart pounding. This wasn’t how she imagined her parents finding out. And in front of Pastor Ed and Barbara! What must they think of her? She sat cross-legged on her bed, hugging her pillow to her chest. The sound of the front door closing reached her ears. Her parents would be up soon.

Muffled voices floated through the floorboards, but she couldn’t make them out. The minutes ticked away, but no one came up. As the moon rose bright in the sky, Kay pulled the covers over her head and longed for the peace that sleep would bring.

In spite of the anxiety overwhelming her, exhaustion won out, and Kay found herself sleeping through to her alarm the next morning. She gathered her courage and headed downstairs. Mom was making coffee and Dad sat at the table, his nose buried in the paper. Kay’s stomach turned at the smell of cooking eggs. Mom turned her way, coffee mug in hand.

“Good morning, sweetheart. Can I get you something to eat?”

Kay shook her head, staring at her in disbelief. Were they actually going to ignore the situation? “No, I’m not hungry.”

Her mom pressed a granola bar into her hand as Kay headed out the door. “Eat. You’ll feel better.”

Kay walked the three blocks to school in silence, nibbling on the granola bar as she went. Her pulse quickened when Ted approached from the opposite direction. A month ago she would have called him her boyfriend, but lately, he hardly spoke to her. She hurried to intercept him.

“Did you get my text this weekend?”

He barely glanced at her as he strode inside.

“What do you want from me? Just take care of the problem.”

Kay slumped against the side of the building, her spirits deflating like a balloon. It wasn’t surprising, considering the way he’d been ignoring her, but it still hurt. She spent the rest of the day in a daze, utterly alone.

When she returned home, she locked herself in her bedroom, exhausted. On her bed was an envelope. Opening the folded paper inside, a few bills fluttered to the floor. She read her father’s familiar handwriting:

“Thought you might need some money to take care of things.”

Kay wanted to scream. Why would no one talk to her about this? Everyone wanted to pretend it didn’t happen. Well, it happened, and “taking care of it” wasn’t the answer. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks. As she ripped the note to pieces, the doorbell rang. Great. Just what she needed. Company. No one else was home, so it was up to her to see who was there. Wiping her eyes on her sleeve, she ran down the stairs and threw open the door to find Barbara, the pastor’s wife.

“I thought you might need a friend right now. There’s somewhere I’d like to take you, if it’s ok.”

“I guess.” What did it matter? Kay was numb. She followed Barbara out to the car. Several minutes later, Barbara pulled up in front of a building with “County Women’s Services” printed on a large sign out front. Kay’s heart broke. Even Barbara, the woman she looked up to, the woman she’d trust with her life, wanted her to get rid of the baby. Silent tears streamed down her face as she followed Barbara into the building.

****

The bright-eyed woman at the podium paused, scanning the audience.

“Kay was wrong. That’s not what Barbara was doing. Kay walked into that building, was given a free ultrasound, and was told the life inside her was precious. Barbara saved my life that day, for you see, Kay is my mother.”

“In a time when no one wanted to talk about what happened, Barbara took a chance and befriended a young girl who was scared and alone. I ask you to do the same. If you support our local women’s services center, you never know whose life you may save.”

Jeremiah 1: 5

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
    before you were born I set you apart;
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”