"Ava... who's the father?" Riley asked softly.

Ava flinched at the question. Her stomach was turning, and her hands were clinging to the side of the bed. The words were not able to come out of her mouth.

Marcus...she was unable to say his name. Not now, not ever. It was his thought of him, of that night, of what she had done, that made her chest painfully tight.

It is... it is Mark, she said, but barely above a whisper.

Riley gazed and gaped at her, and a horror and doubtfulness fell on her face. "Mark? Are you serious? You... you slept with him? You allow yourself to get into this position?

"I... I did not intend for it to happen like this," Ava said hastily, shaking her head. "I just... I didn't think properly okay? I wasn't thinking straight."

Riley rubbed a hand down her face and was exasperated. "Ava, you have to be careful! You cannot simply sleep with someone, not like this! Not at the time you are still in school and not before you consider the ramifications! You let your guard down. Didn't you use protection? You should know better!"

"I know!" The voice broke a little, and Ava snapped. I did not wish that it should happen to me!

Riley sat back with a jerk. "We need an adult here, Ava. You're still in school. The baby... the father... everything... this cannot be a one-man job. You need your mother."

Ava was hesitant and her hands were shaky. She churned her stomach at the thought of her mother and of the lecture as well as the anger of Patricia. But she knew Riley was right. She picked up her phone and called home.

"Mom," Ava said, attempting to maintain calmness in her voice. "I'm at the hospital. Can you come get me?"

"Is everything okay?" Patricia questioned instantly with a tense voice.

"Yes... Come... just come,"  Ava answered. She never said anything about the pregnancy, the father, or anything. She could not.

It was only a few moments before Patricia came. She got answers, and she did it at a glance when she entered the room.

"What is going on, Ava? Why am I here?" she enquired, with the voice of authority and concern.

Ava swallowed hard. She may have felt her heart beat in her heart. She turned her head away and did not look at her mother. At last, she talked, and it was little more than a whisper.

"I'm... I'm pregnant," she admitted.

Patricia blanched and her face changed to disbelief. "Pregnant?!" she shouted. "Ava Thompson! How could you? Who... who is the father?"

"... it is Marks," Ava repeated the lie. "But I... I left him. He cheated on me, Mom. That's why I left him."

Patricia flushed with anger. "You left a man... over cheating?" she yelled. "You ran away from him on the grounds of cheating? And now... You are pregnant so young? What do you think will happen now? Do you know how you have humiliated our family?"

Ava shuddered at the words of her mother. She was just about to open her mouth to respond, but Patricia was not done.

You believe that you can afford to make mistakes like this and nothing will happen? My daughter is not going to be a baby mama. Do you hear me?" The voice of Patricia was severe and uncompromising, and reverberated in the hospital room.

"I... Mom... I don't want to..." Ava attempted, but her words failed her.

"You will marry him!" Patricia screamed and her face was hard and set. You will put this mess you have made right. My daughter shall never raise a bastard. And you have to get back with Mark Rivera at once!

Ava's stomach dropped. She shook her head violently. "I... I can't! I don't want to! I can't marry him!"

Patricia's jaw tightened. "No arguments, Ava. You defy me, and you will cause more disgrace to this family than you have already caused. This ends now. You are going to marry him and that is all.

Ava's mind raced. She felt trapped. Her chest was panicking and her hands were trembling. How could she marry Mark? What could she tell... anything? She would have screamed, cried, run, but she made no noise. Her mother was categorical and there was no bargaining.

Riley gave her a squeeze of her hand, which was all she could do to comfort her. "It will be all right," she said to Ava. "We'll figure this out. You're not alone."

Ava smiled weakly, her tears on the verge of bursting out. She was angry, frightened, and helpless simultaneously. The eyes of Patricia remained steady on her, undaunted, unswerving. It was a question of no compromise, no middle ground. It was not the choice of Ava and until then, all she could do was to comply.

Patricia now shifted her gaze to the exit of the room and was content to believe that she had given her verdict successfully. "You will get married, Ava, this is the last time I am going to say it!" her voice was cold and firm. So she walked away with Ava and Riley were left to the emptiness of the hospital room.

The silence that followed was heavy. Ava sat up against the bed, her thoughts whirling. She was caught between the fear and anger over the truth of her pregnancy and the impossible decision her mother had taken on her behalf.

At her elbow sat Riley holding her hand. "We will see this out, Ava," said she. "We'll get through it."

Ava agreed, yet in her heart, she understood that life would never be easy anymore. The Mark lie was established, her cover concerning Marcus still hidden, but now another fight had started--the one that would define her future and make her face decisions that she was not ready to make.

Her thoughts wandered to the window, the sun shining in very mean and sharp. She had a desire to get away, to flee it all but she could not. 

"You will marry him," she said to herself as she remembered listening to Patricia earlier on, and it was on her mind over and over.

Ava was a shadow of her mom as she followed her into the house.

This over-heavy thud of the front door closed behind them, and it was far too noisome in her ears. She weighed her body, as every step was hard. She was still reeling at the hospital, at the thought of the word pregnant and that you will marry him.

Pat didn't ask Ava to sit down.

She placed her handbag on the table in an orderly manner and turned about to look directly at her daughter.

Now, Pat said, calmly but sharply," You are going to do as I tell you to."

Ava swallowed. "Mom"

"No." Pat raised a finger. "You've said enough for today."

Ava closed her mouth. Her hands were shaking next to her.

Pat passed by the girl and began straightening the cushions, which were already straight, adjusting the things that were not necessary. When she was in a temper, that was her job.

"I called a doctor already," Pat went on. "A real one. And not a certain clinic you saw today, you see.

Her heart skipped. "You... you called a doctor?"

Sure, Pat finally turned towards her. "You will have appointments regularly. You won't skip any. I'll come with you."

Ava shook her head weakly. "Mom, I can go alone. I-"

You are not going to do this, Pat said. You have demonstrated that you are not good at making decisions independently.

It was more painful than Ava thought the words would be. Her eyes were stinging, and she did not want to cry. Not now. Not in front of her mom.

Pat took the phone Ava had placed on the table. And this will, she said, remain with me, unless I say the contrary.

"What?" Ava gasped. "Mom, please"

You do not need distractions, you do not, said Pat, coldly. No friends stuffing nonsense in your head. No private chats. School and home. That's it."

The walls were closing in on Ava. "Riley only comes to my assistance.

"Riley's a kid," Pat replied. "And so are you."

Ava pressed her lips tight. Her chest was glued up with every word she wanted to say.

Pat moved closer saying, "It will not be discussed in other places other than our house. Got it?"

Ava nodded slowly.

"You will have your head down," Pat said. You will neither shame this family anymore.

Ava flinched.

Pat sighed, like she was fed up. "Go to your room. Rest. You look awful."

Ava walked away without saying anything. Each of the steps was heavier than the previous one. As she reached her room, she closed the door very softly and leaned against it.

Her breath came out shaky.

This was her life now.

She struggled slowly to the bed and sat down. This time her stomach was twisted not with sickness, but with fear. Fear of the lie she'd told. Even the apprehension of the future that she had already chosen.

As soon as she was out of her shoes, she heard footsteps descending the staircase.

A man's voice.

Her heart skipped painfully.

Marcus.

Ava froze. She remained in silence, listening.

She could hear his footsteps ascending the stairs.

Her chest tightened. Please don't come here. Please.

But now the foot-steps paused at her door.

There was a gentle knock.

"Ava?" The voice of Marcus was heard at the door. "It's me."

Her fingers were gripping the bedsheets. She couldn't answer. No, she thought, she was certain to weep had she spoken.

The door opened slowly.

Marcus was there, high and well-known, and his jacket was still on. His eyes noticed her immediately, and he changed once he saw her.

"Hey," he said softly. "What happened?"

Ava repressed herself from staring at him. The attempt almost made her snivel. He looked worried. Tired. Kind.

And everything she did, did not seem to be what it was.

"I am okay," she answered in a rush, but her voice was so tremulous.

Marcus frowned. He went into the room and closed the door. "You don't look fine."

"I said I am all right," Ava repeated, a little too fast.

Marcus studied her face. "You're pale. You're shaking."

"I'm just tired."

He didn't believe her. She could tell that.

Marcus stood back and inquired, in a whisper, "Why? Is something happening at the hospital?"

Her heart jumped in her ribs.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "It was nothing."

Nothing is likely to get you home with that kind of look.

She turned her back on him and gazed at a window. The daylight was bitter and brisk.

Marcus moved closer. Not too close. No more than enough to make her feel his presence.

You can speak to me, Ava, he said to himself.

The words almost broke her.

She drew her arms into herself. "I really can't."

Marcus sighed softly. Your mom told me you were not feeling well.

Ava's stomach dropped. "She... she told you?"

"She had not told me anything in detail," he said. "But she was... intense."

That was one word for it.

Marcus put himself down so that he looked at her level. "Look at me."

Slowly, Ava turned her head.

His eyes were roving over her face, but stopping at each word, as though he were attempting to read anything written on her features.

"There is something you are trying to cover up," he said.

Her breath caught.

"No, I'm not."

"Ava, I said- here-here, look at me." 

She shook her head quickly. "You don't. Not anymore."

She could not take the words in before they came out.

Marcus stiffened. "What does that mean?"

"Nothing," Ava said fast. "I didn't mean..."

She stopped. Talking felt dangerous. All the 

words might cleanse away all the lies and secrets. 

Marcus straightened slowly. "Did I do something wrong?"

This broke her heart a little.

"No," she whispered. "You didn't."

Why do you look like you are falling apart then?

Ava bit her lips. Tears blurred her vision. She shook them off with obstinacy.

"I just need rest," she said. "That's all."

Marcus stared at her for some time. His jaw tightened a bit.

"Okay," he said finally. "If that's what you want."

He looked around the door and stopped.

"Ava," said he, now in a lower tone. "You should tell someone, in case you are sick, in case something is wrong."

She did not look and nodded.

He stopped and muttered, "You need not carry all of it yourself."

The door closed behind him.

Ava exhaled a breath that she had not been aware of holding back.

Her hands flew to her stomach.

I am sorry, she said to herself. "I'm so sorry."

Marcus was sitting on the wall down the stairs, his eyebrows drawn.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

And whatever it was, Ava was unprepared to explain to him.

With gradually increasing anxiety, he straightened.

"Ava..." he murmured to himself.

One question rang in his ears and was becoming heavier with every second.

What are you hiding from me?

Ava couldn't sleep that night.

Whenever she shut her eyes, she continued to see the ugly face of her mom. Marriage was a sound that was still ringing in her ears, as if it were, a judge delivering a verdict. Her stomach turned, and her chest ached as though it was feeling so tight that she could not breathe.

Morning came too fast.

Marcus walked in, and she was at the kitchen table staring at a cup of tea that had already gone cold.

"Morning," he said gently.

Ava flinched when he said it. She sat up in a jerk and gave a small smile. "Morning."

Marcus paused. He gazed at her forehead in the same way as he did last night. "Did you sleep at all?"

"Yeah, a little," Ava lied.

He pushed a chair up and sat opposite her. "You still don't look okay."

"I said I was fine!" She said so fast as she wrapped her fingers around the mug, which was cold.

Marcus frowned. "Ava..."

She made a breath, attempting to prepare herself. This was it. She was forced to speak something that was believable. Something simple.

"I'm just stressed," she said. "School's been... a lot."

Marcus tilted his head. "School?"

Yeah, yeah, I said to myself. Exam papers, tests, piles and piles. I guess my body just reacted."

She experienced the guilt striking her.

Her throat closed up, and she would be afraid for a moment that she would choke at the lie. She stared at the table lest he remember that she was lying.

Marcus was quiet.

Ava, he said slowly, school stress does not normally cause one to look like a person is about to fall over.

She laughed nervously. "Well, I guess I'm just weak."

"That's not true," he said firmly.

She shrugged. "Maybe I'm just tired."

Marcus sat back in his chair. You see, you can speak to me, you know.

Her chest hurt.

"I know," she said softly. "But really, it's nothing."

Marcus did not immediately respond. He simply stared at her, his face a question that he was not asking.

Ok, ok, he said at length. "If you're sure."

"I am,"Ava said, but her voice shook.

He got on his feet and, as he left the kitchen, looked back. In case the stress becomes acute, promise that you will complain to someone.

She nodded fast. "I promise."

Another lie.

Marcus walked out of the kitchen, but the burden of his worry remained. When he had gone, Ava dropped her head into her hands.

"I am sorry," she said. To him, to herself, to the life inside her.

She had no time to take a breath of relief when her mom entered the room.

The heels of Patricia tap, tap, tapped.

"You're awake," Patricia said.

"Yeah, Mom."

Patricia looked at the tea that had not been drunk. "You didn't eat."

"I'm not hungry."

"You need to eat," Patricia said. You no longer think about yourself alone.

Ava stiffened.

On the counter, Patricia picked up her phone. "I've made a call."

Ava's heart skipped. "A call?"

"Yeah." Patricia didn't look at her. "I called Mark."

The world tilted.

"You did what?" Ava rose so quickly it sounded as though her chair was scraping the floor.

Patricia swung around, her face composed and without expression. He has a right to be aware of what is expected of him.

"Mom, no!" Ava shook. "You can't just-"

"I can, and I did," Patricia said. Responsibility is required in this situation.

Ava's hands trembled. "You didn't even ask me."

Patricia said coldly, There's nothing to ask. "You're pregnant. He's the father. He'll do the right thing."

Ava found she was unable to breathe. "You don't know that."

Patricia's eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"

"Nada," Ava said quickly. I only, it is all too fast.

"It is too late, Ava, it is too late," Patricia replied. "Mark is coming over today."

Ava's stomach dropped. "Today?"

"Yeah."

Ava shook her head, becoming panicked. "I'm not ready. I have not even spoken to him decently.

That was something you should have thought of before, Patricia said. I will not allow you to bring a bastard child into the world.

"I did not ask you to," Ava said.

Patricia's face hardened. "Lower your voice."

Ava closed her lips. Her heart beat was sore from pondering.

"When's he coming?" Ava asked quietly.

"This afternoon," Patricia replied. "And you'll be polite. You won't embarrass me."

Patricia walked out of the kitchen after giving her phone back to her. She seemed to have finished the conversation.

Ava stood there, frozen.

Mark.

She had not digested all this herself, and now here she had to encounter him. Explain. Lie. Convince.

Her phone buzzed in her hand.

She looked down at the screen.

A message.

Mark: Your mother tells us that we have to speak.

Her breath caught.

The words were lost in the tears in her eyes.

She sat back into the chair and gazed at the message as though it would fade away in case of prolonged observation.

She heard herself mumbling something horrible in her heart.

This was not her only lie.

And it was soon to become a lot worse.