Meadow, you are pregnant.” The school doctor said as she handed me the results. Her eyes fixed on me. My heart almost stopped. How could this be? It was just a one-time thing. Though I had suspected it when I missed my period. But I thought I was just overreacting.

“Do you know who the father of your child is?” The doctor asked in an irritating tone. She was peering into my face for an answer.

I was already shaking with fear as tears rolled down my cheeks. My mind was filled with a thousand questions. What would my poor mother say to me? The school will expel me once they find out I’m pregnant. I’m just eighteen years old. My life was literally falling apart right before my eyes.

“Meadow, you do know who the father of your child is, right? The doctor asked. You are still a teenager. I can only imagine the shame and disappointment this will bring to your parents.”

I lowered my head in shame as the tears poured freely from my face now. My whole body was shaking as I continued crying.

“Meadow, I’m asking you a question,” the doctor said angrily, hitting her desk, which made me almost jump. But I still refused to say a word.

Of course I knew who the father of my child was.

Two Months Ago:

“Happy Valentine’s, Meadow,” my best friend Matt said, handing me a single rose petal and smiling. I collected it. It meant so much to me that Matt was celebrating Valentine’s with me. I have been in love with him for so long, but I never confessed my feelings to him. My parents work for his family. My mom is their maid, while my father is their driver. And they were kind enough to enroll me in the same school with Matt.

“So who’s your date for Valentine’s?” Matt asked with his usual smile. His hazel eyes fixed on me. I turned away shyly. I wished Matt knew what was going through my mind at that moment.

Every time he looks at me that way, my heart skips a bit. But I’m not sure he knew about that. He only sees me as his best friend and nothing more. I wished he could see me more than that. But deep down inside of me, I knew it wasn’t possible. I’m just their servant's daughter.

“I don’t have a date,” I said with a small smile. I was starting to feel shy around him, and my heart was beating so fast.

“Really? What about Ethan? He’s always hanging around you in school these days. I thought you guys were a thing.”

I shook my head. “Ethan is just a friend.”

“Thought I was your only friend, Meadow,” Ethan said, clutching his chest dramatically.

“You are my best friend, and Ethan is just a friend.”

“Does that mean I can do this?” He gave me a kiss on my lips.

I froze. My heart was racing, and my cheeks flushed as I touched my lips.

“You don’t need any other male friends or even a boyfriend. I’m here for you, Meadow. I will always stand by you.”

The way he said it, looking straight at me, made my heart race again. “We are not dating, Ethan. Eventually, I will start dating.”

He stood up and slammed his fists on the wall angrily. “Don’t you understand what I’m trying to say, Meadow? I can’t stand seeing you with Ethan or any other boy. I want you all to myself.”

“What about Annabel? You guys are dating.” I sat back on my bed. Annabel, the Queen B of our school, the cheerleader who never misses an opportunity to bully me, has made my life a living hell in school just because I was close to Matt. And she’s also from a rich family, if not richer than Matt’s family.

“I can end the relationship with Annabel right now and here just for you,” he said, removing his phone from his pocket. But I rushed to snatch it from him.

“What are you doing?”

“Ending whatever relationship I have with Annabel. I want you to be the only girl in my life, just like I want to be the only boy in your life.”

“Okay, you are getting ahead of yourself, Matt,” I said, looking at him and noticing how close our lips were.

“I promise, Meadow, I will never break your heart. Just give me a chance to love you.”

The moment he said those words, my heart melted. I have been longing for this day. I felt as if I was dreaming.

Matt stood up from the bed and started unbuttoning his shirt. When he was done, he threw the shirt on the floor. His trousers sat a bit low, exposing the V-line on his lower abdomen. I tried to pretend I didn’t know what he was about to do. I tried not to look at him, but I couldn't.

“What are you doing?”

“I want to show you just how much I love you, Meadow. I know you are still a virgin. I want to be your first. It will seal our love forever. I will be gentle.”

“There are other people inside the house,” I said weakly.

“No, it’s just the two of us. My parents went out and your mom went along with them. They won’t be back till tomorrow.”

I knew whatever was about to happen was wrong in all aspects, but my sense of reasoning was far gone at that point—or maybe it was the result of the long-time crush I had on Matt. I couldn’t resist him, so I gave in.

He was gentle just the way he promised, continuing to whisper his promises to never leave me or ever break my heart. When he was done, he gave me a kiss on my forehead and whispered, “You are mine now.” Before laying down beside me and pulling me into a tight cuddle as we slept off.

When I woke up to use the restroom, I was all alone. Matt was nowhere to be seen. I didn’t think much of it. Maybe he went to get something from his room and would be back.

After using the toilet, I had a very strong urge to go to Matt’s room and see what he was up to. I quickly wore my pajamas and slowly walked upstairs to his room.

I froze when I pushed the door open. Matt was having sex with Annabel in his room. The same person who swore never to hurt me just a few hours ago was the same person having sex with Annabel? My phone fell from my hand.

Matt froze mid-thrust. He turned and saw I was standing at the door watching them with tears streaming down my face. I was expecting him to run to me and explain what was happening, but instead he smirked as he continued thrusting.

“Weirdo, close the door,” Annabel said, smiling triumphantly.

That night became the night that ruined my life. The next day, a video of me and Matt having sex was spread around the school, but Matt’s face was mysteriously cut from the clip.

Present Day:

“Meadow, I’m talking to you. You know who the father of your child is, don't you? Is he a student in this school?” The school doctor asked. Her question snapped me back to reality.

I remained quiet, tears streaming down my face. I’m in a big mess. How can I be pregnant? It was just one night.

“Since you don’t want to talk, I will send the results to the principal. She will handle it,” the doctor said. She was already angry.

My entire world collapsed at that moment. Because once the principal knew… There would be no place left for me in this school.

You have until the closing period to tell me if the father of your child is also a student of this school, or else I will send the report of your pregnancy over to Mrs. Anderson. Now get out of my office,” the principal said angrily when I still refused to tell her who the father of my child was.

I quickly dropped to my knees and pleaded with the principal not to send the results of my pregnancy test to Mrs. Anderson, or else I would be in big trouble. How do I explain to her that her son is responsible for my pregnancy?

“That’s fine. You have until the closing period. Do you understand? Now get out of my office.”

I didn’t go back to class. I went to the cafeteria—it was empty since break time was over, so everywhere was quiet. I sat there for over an hour, crying my eyes out. The principal’s words rang in my ears over and over again.

I hardly saw Matt at home anymore. He had given an order to my parents not to allow me out of my room after school hours, or he would tell his parents to throw us out of the house. And I couldn’t contact him anymore, even in school. But it seemed like I didn’t have much choice this time around.

I stood up and cleaned my tears with the back of my hand. I had to tell Matt I was pregnant, but the principal would tell his mom.

After searching the entire school for an hour, I finally found Matt coming out of the boys’ toilet with Annabel, who was still arranging her clothes. I didn’t need a soothsayer to tell me what they had done inside the toilet. But why did it still hurt? It had been two months now.

Matt’s face showed a disgusted reaction when he saw me. He scowled. He was clearly unhappy to see me.

“Weirdo, you really like peeking at people having sex? Or have you made another porn video you want to show us?” Annabel asked, laughing like the bitch she was.

I cleared my throat. “Matt, can I talk to you for a moment? It’s really urgent.”

“What are you doing here? And why do you want to see me? Didn’t I warn you to stay away from me?” Matt yelled at me.

I lowered my head. The tears were threatening to fall, but I held them back. I had never seen him yell at me like that before. He was always so gentle and kind with me. But now everything was different.

“I-I’m sorry. Just five minutes, please. It’s important.”

He whispered something to Annabel’s ear, and she smiled as she walked off, but not without pushing me out of her way.

“Spit it out now. I don’t have all the time in the world to waste here,” he scowled.

“I’m pregnant.”

The anger on his face suddenly disappeared. He looked shocked, but he quickly recovered.

“Congratulations on your pregnancy, but why are you telling me? Tell the baby’s father. I wasn’t there when you people were making the baby,” he said harshly.

“You are the father, Matt. That’s why I came to talk to you. The principal is threatening to send the pregnancy report to your mom if I don’t tell her who the father of the child is until the closing period.”

“What? How could I be the father of the bastard you are carrying in your womb?” Matt exploded. “I was careful that night, so don’t try to pin your pregnancy on me. How do I even know how many men you have slept with after that night?”

“You are questioning my character? You know it was you, Matt. You are the only man I have ever had sex with, and you know it. And we didn’t use protection that night,” I said, raising my voice. It felt like someone had carved my heart out with a sharp knife.

Matt slammed his fist against the toilet door. “Don’t you fucking talk to me like that, or so help me God, the next punch could land on your slutty face.”

I froze. Matt had just threatened to punch me? Why did he hate me so much?

“I’m sorry,” I apologized in a small voice. Tears were flowing down my cheeks now. He looked at me in disgust. My body was trembling as I sobbed.

“We can get a DNA test done if you don’t believe me,” I said in a shaky voice. “I swear it’s your child. I wanted you to know before the principal sends the report to your mom.”

“Shit!” Matt yelled, kicking the toilet door. While I stood there sobbing, a group of boys walked toward us, chatting in a loud voice, but they stopped immediately when they saw Matt and me standing at the door.

Matt held my hand and dragged me out of there forcefully as the boys looked on in shock. He dragged me to the basketball court.

“Did you do this to me on purpose?" Don't you know you were supposed to take the morning after pill?" You know what, get rid of the pregnancy.”

I looked at Matt in shock as tears slipped down my face. How could he even suggest aborting

“Oh please stop with the drama, it’s not like I’m asking you to hang yourself. You are only eighteen, we both are still too young to be a parent. Do you really want us to do this?” He asked with a confident look on his face.

“I know someone who will take care of that thing in your stomach, no one will ever find out, I will handle the principal and the school doctor to make sure they don’t say a word about the pregnancy to my mom.

I looked at him in disbelief. Was he really the same person that confessed his love to me and promised to protect me, the same person who couldn’t stand to see me hurt?”

“Meadow, it’s for the best. You are still young, if you abort the pregnancy, then we can go back to the way we were before, remember we used to be best friends. But you have to get rid of the baby. If my parents find out, they will lose it, and they will definitely fire your parents and chase you and them out of our house. And besides, my parents will never accept their maid's daughter as the mother of my child.

“Think about it Meadow, it’s in your best interest.” He said, grabbing my hands.

His words cut deep making me feel like nothing more than garbage. I quickly pulled my hand away from him,I was so angry at myself for letting it come to this. I should never have let him touch me that night.

I was about to run out of the basketball court when my phone beeped, it was a message from the principal I froze.

Principal: I have sent your pregnancy report to Mrs Anderson and she will be here with your parents anytime soon, so make yourself available in my office. I cannot allow shameful acts like this in my school. It’s my responsibility to report such behaviors to the parents, and make sure irresponsible girls like you face the consequences of their actions.

I almost fell to the ground.” I’m finished.” I muttered.

“Meadow, what’s the problem?” Matt quickly asked. Okay fine if you want to keep the baby, you can. I’m not forcing you to get an abortion done. I will even give you money, but you have to go very far away from me. But the baby will never be an Anderson.

I wasn’t even listening to what he was saying at this point, I knew it was too late. His parents are already aware of the pregnancy and I knew they would never allow me to bear this child. After all, how can a servant’s daughter bear their grandchild, it would be an insult to them. And I was also scared of what will happen to my parents now.

I tuned to look at Matt's face, his sparkling blue eyes that were once full of affection for me, now bear nothing but disgust.

“I need to go.”

“We have not finished this discussion Meadow and you want to go?” He asked angrily. He was frowning in confusion.

“I need to get something from my school bag.”

“Fine, make it quick, I will be here waiting for you, and don’t you dare delay me.”

I nodded as I walked out of the basketball court, my phone trembling in my hand, I wasn’t going to get anything from my bag, I didn’t even know where I was going. I just needed an excuse to get away from Matt. I knew he wasn’t going to let me go easily, not until I promise to abort the baby, or go away.

Most of the students had already gone home, just a few of them were still loitering around the school building. I entered the empty classroom and sat on my desk and broke down in tears. I will never kill my child just because his father doesn’t want him or her. I only have one option left now.

I quickly grabbed my bag and walked out of the classroom, but Matt was already waiting for me at the door. He was glaring at me, and before he could say anything else and sank lower in my eyes I made it easy for him.

“Have you gotten what you came here for?”

I unzipped my bag and brought out my sanitary pads.” Here my period just started, It was a prank.

Relief washed throughout his face, as he suddenly smiled.

“Did your period really come?” He asked again to be sure I was lying to him. Then why did you decide to prank me with such news and cause me so much stress? Damn it.

I will just go home, I only have one pad with me and my flow is heavy. I will need more pads.

Matt nodded as he shoved his hands into his pocket. Before the incident, we used to go home together, but after that night he instructed the driver not to wait for me anymore.

I turned to look at him one more time and ask him one more question.

“You said we could go back the way we were if I aborted the pregnancy, well since I’m not pregnant can we still go back to being best friends?”

I needed to see the kind of person I had trusted, I wanted to see the real Matt.

“In your dreams. Are you insane? You really think that after pulling such a cruel prank on me, I would still want to be friends with you.

“I have got better things to do than being friends with a loser like you. It took me this long to finally get rid of you.”

His words cut me deep like a sharp knife, but I only gave him a broken smile to hide my pains.

I smiled bitterly.” You don’t have to be cruel Matt, I knew it, but I just wanted to hear it from you to be sure. With that I turned and walked away, without waiting for him to insult me more. But I knew the nightmare wasn’t over.

My mom and Matt’s parents were already waiting for me at the door the moment I reached home. I already knew that no matter the lies I had told Matt earlier I knew I would be forced to tell the truth. I could see the look of disappointment in Matt’s parents' faces.

As soon as I walked closer to them, my mom rushed to me and grabbed me by my hair, forcing me to kneel down in front of Matt's parents. My dad didn’t even pause, he ran to me in his driver's uniform, his hand flew across my cheek, striking me so hard, I couldn't even tell where I was standing for a few seconds. My ears were ringing.

“You ungrateful child, how dare you get pregnant at this age? Now tell me who the father of that bastard in your stomach is.” My father shouted angrily.

I kept quiet and that infuriated him the more, he removed his belt from his trouser and twisted it tightly in his hand, and I knew what was coming. He started whipping me mercilessly.

I fell to the ground as he continued whipping me, I used my hand to cover my stomach, while the lashes from t—-

“Enough. Mr Anderson barked. Do you want to kill her? The mistake has already been made.

“That’s right, Stop whipping her. Mrs Anderson added.

My father reluctantly released me, he was breathing heavily, I was still lying on the ground with my hands protecting my stomach. He can whip me all he wants, but I won’t let any harm come to the innocent child in my stomach.

Matt walked in with Annable, they were both holding hands affectionately like true lovers and giggling, the color drained from his face when he saw me lying on the ground, and our parents standing outside angrily.

“Mom, what's happening here?”

“Meadow is pregnant, I got a call from the school principal today and she has refused to say who is responsible for her pregnancy.

“She’s a slut, she sleeps with every guy in school, how will she know who the father of the bastard in her stomach is?” Annabel said laughing, and Matt joined her.

I ignored them and took a deep breath to calm my nerves and swallowed my tears. I stood up from the ground. My body was badly bruised, the corner of my lips was bleeding. I looked at Matt, but he just scowled at me.

“If you are done whipping me, can I go to my room now Dad?”

As soon as the words left my mouth, my mother stepped forward and gave me a slap across my face.

“Enough! Stop hitting her.” Mr Anderson said. Meadow, you can go to your room now, I will speak with your parents later in the day.”

I turned to look at Matt one last time before I walked into the house. I didn’t know what I was expecting from him at that moment. My parents ran after me. My mom was yelling for me to stop, I ignored her as I entered my room and locked the door.

I held the handle of the door tightly to prevent my parents from pushing their way in, the tears were flowing freely now. My parents were still knocking on the door. Then my father said something that drew my attention.

“I have a plan, since she doesn’t want to open the door, let her be. We will forcibly take her to get an abortion tonight, or else the Andersons will throw us out of this house.

He thought I wouldn’t hear them talking from my room. But luckily I heard everything, my body went cold instantly, I felt very weak. My own parents want to abort my child. I knew I can’t wait any longer to put my plan in action or my unborn child would be in danger.

I waited till I heard their footsteps leaving, I gently opened the door to make sure they were really gone. Then I ran back inside. I quickly packed a few of my clothes into a small bag, with the money I had been saving for a while, it wasn’t much, but it will sustain me for a while.

I wanted to use the main door, but I quickly decided against it. Matt or my parents might be there. I climbed out of my window, Matt had taught me how to do that, the first time he took me to a club. But the fond memories now felt like poison to me, I never imagined in my wildest life that he would betray me this way.

Once I was finally outside, I breathed a sigh of relief, but I knew I still wasn’t safe.

“Going somewhere?” A familiar voice asked.

I turned to see Ethan standing before me, he was wearing a hoodie that covered his face.

“Ethan, what are you doing here?” I asked, panicking.

“I knew everything that happened, I heard you and Ethan talking in the basketball court, I knew I shouldn’t have eavesdropped, but I couldn't stand seeing you in tears. Matt is a dick for betraying you and hurting you this way. But I can help you get away from here to where you and your baby will be safe.

I couldn’t believe what was happening, the same Ethan I had rejected multiple times, just because of my blind love for Matt, is the same person that wants to help me now.

“Come on Meadow, your parents will start looking for you. Soon, We don’t have enough time. Let’s go. He stretched out his hand.

He was right, I grabbed his hand as we ran to a car waiting nearby, as soon as we entered the car, the driver zoom off. Ethan brought out a plane ticket and new ID card and gave it to me.

“Here is you ticket to New York, My parents owned a house there, there are servants in the house to attend to you, and you will be well taken care of till you give birth to your baby, and after that you can continue with your education. The new ID will be your new identity.”

Tears stream down my face as I collected the new passport and plan tickets from him, I opened the passport to look at the name: Meadow Enrique? I asked loudly. Enrique is Ethan’s surname.

“Yes. You will be known as Meadow Enrique for now. And if you ever need anything just give me a call. Now your flight is about to leave.

“Thank you so much Ethan, I don’t know how I will ever repay you for your kindness.

“You don’t need to repay me, Meadow, I did it for love. I can go to any length just to prove my love for you. I hope you will give me a chance in the future to show you how much I really love you, but for now, get out of this damn city.” He said smiling.

I smiled back at him and gave him a hug. Before boarding the plane. As the flight took off, I looked out of my window seat, tears filling my eyes.

“It’s okay baby, we are safe now. I will be both mother and father to you now, " I whispered, placing my hands on my stomach.