The Love of Lies

Choices

Cori’s POV

I don’t know why I ran. That’s a lie… I do know why I ran; I just didn't think I'd have to.

I wasn't expecting to see Ashton, and the smile he wore was so inviting that I almost forgave him on the spot.

I saw that he was holding flowers, and as stupid as it sounds, that action made my heart spasm wildly.

My mother used to say that the only thing missing from her ceremony was a bouquet of flowers, and Ashton, unknowingly brought that to me, drawing forth strong emotions that almost made me weak.

“Why are you hiding back here?” Tyler's voice scares me, and I jump, covering my heart as I catch my breath.

“Sorry… I-”

“Do you have a stalker?” he interjects, almost as if he's seen women look like me all the time.

“Something like that.” I have never told Ashton where my graduation was going to be, heck, I didn't even know, so he must have found out on his own, which is stalker-ish.

“Need me to walk you to your car?” I nod, grateful that I drove and didn't have to wait for a taxi.

We got to my car without issue, and I'm relieved that Ashton wasn't waiting around. However, Tyler has successfully made me wish I would have called the police instead.

When I went to close my car door, he held it open, leaning into my vehicle to ask for a 'thank you' kiss, which I sternly rejected.

"You hugged me without my permission; consider us even."

"Can't blame a guy for trying," he says, but I do, and uncaring if my door is closed, I start my car and allow it to move forward, making the man release the frame to avoid being run over.

I must have a target on my head or something, but I've been on my own for a long time. Ashton may have played me, but no other man will have the pleasure of using me like that ever again.

Ashton's POV

As we drove out of the parking lot, I spotted Cori walking with the man who hugged her. I was about to approach, unconcerned with his presence, but when he leaned in for a kiss, I had to turn away.

"Sorry bro." Troy tightly grips my shoulder, and I nod, realizing that Cori has moved on.

She's done with school, and hopefully, she will get a decent job.

"So long as she's okay, I'm fine," I lie. I am completely heartbroken, and I hope that the man she’s clearly only just started a relationship with, judging solely by the fact that they aren’t leaving together, appreciates how lucky he is to have a woman like her.

I should have made a move as soon as I felt drawn to her, but I was a coward, and now, I'm a loser.

Cori's POV

Settling in at work was hard, but I started to get the hang of things around week two. My paycheck has never looked better, and I love what I do.

"Have the results for 306 come in?" I ask Kim, the charge nurse, who routes all new hire labs to herself.

It's been about seven minutes since I drew the child’s blood, and it's important to stay on top of it. Kim punches her code and shows me the results, making me gasp.

I quickly called a doctor and got permission to give the child insulin, and just in time, because the boy's mother said he was behaving abnormally, and was complaining of dizziness.

"Good work newbie." I love the staff on this floor, and truthfully, I don't know how I got so lucky.

Everyone is friendly, there is no competition to be the best, and even the doctors are respectful, so I find myself smiling more.

Today is an especially busy day at the hospital, so I don't really have any down time.

I seldom feel sleepy, especially since I don't have a social life, so I usually have no problem keeping up, but today isn't one of those days.

I'm basically able to keep standing because I don't want to lose my job, but eventually the fatigue catches up to me and I start to feel woozy.

Before I can catch myself, everything goes black.

I next open my eyes in a hospital bed, alone in a room with Kim, who is looking at me in concern.

"Have you been eating properly?"

"Yes," I reply, a headache beginning to develop as my eyes adjust to the light.

"Any history of diabetes in the family?"

"None, and I submitted my medical history before being hired.”

"Okay, but have you made any changes to your norm lately?"

"No; other than work, my life is pretty much the same as it's always been."

"Could you be pregnant?" I sit up abruptly, realizing that I'm late, and not just stressed and not eating well late, but REALLY late. "Calm down, calm down. I think you're a sweet girl, and I won't say anything, but we need to confirm for the sake of your health."

A short while later, I'm crying my eyes out as I stare down at positive pregnancy results.

"I don't understand how this happened. I've only done it once and we used protection."

"Not to sound cliché, but it only takes one time, and condoms can break."

"I think I'm going to be sick." I stand, rushing to the nearest toilet where I spill my insides, unable to cope with what I just discovered.

"Cori, this isn't the end of the world. You have options." I nod, cleaning out my mouth before walking back to the bed.

"I can't lose this job," I whisper. "I worked so hard to get here, and the guy who did this to me… I can't even go to him for assistance."

"That isn't the option I was suggesting." The woman writes down an address, and I take it, looking up at her for an explanation. "First, find out how far along you are, and that clinic will list out the choices you have."

I was barely able to finish my workday, and when I got home, I searched the address and made the first appointment I could get.

The place looked clean on the inside, but the staff wasn't very friendly, and after confirming what I already knew, they led me to a room where an obstetrician gelled and scanned my stomach.

"There it is," the woman says, causing me to burst into tears, unable to accept how stupid I am. "At this stage, and in this state, it's illegal for us to terminate, so I can refer you out, or we can look into adoption."

The woman is probably so used to this that she isn't even fazed by my tears, but I'm mentally breaking down.

I cannot give birth then give my baby away, but I also don't want to have a baby. I'm not even twenty-two yet, and my career has only just started.

"Is there nothing else I can do?"

"Not where we live, but like I said, I can refer you elsewhere." The woman leaves and a counselor comes back with literature that she thinks I may need to 'process.'

I'm then given the number and address to a clinic that is literally across the country. I would have to book a flight there, get a hotel, arrange for transportation while I'm there, then book a flight back after my follow-up appointment a full three days later.

That will cost money I don't have, and I can feel my world collapsing in on me. Everything was falling into place, everything was starting to go just the way I planned, it was all perfect and I don’t know why; why is this happening to me? Haven’t I suffered enough?

"All of this could have been avoided if-"

"He used a condom," I rudely interrupt, not in the mood for another lecture.

"Do you know the brand?"

"Gold Brand," I reply, remembering it because it was one of the first things I noticed when I woke up.

"Did it break by any chance?"

"I wasn't exactly… I… he and I were drinking so… I don't know." I start to feel dizzy, and the woman brings me water, which is of no help to someone who’s feeling faint.

I can't even stand to look at her anymore, so I get up and leave, not forgetting the information she gave me because I may need it.

*One week Later*

I worked out the details and I simply can't afford the trip across the country. I thought I was in a good place financially, so I paid every bill I owed and went shopping for things I could have done without.

I even had my car serviced, which suddenly feels like a stupid mistake.

Trying to go cross country would require at least three days off, and it would put my savings account in the negative.

To make matters worse, seeing all the parents who are tending to sick children while I'm trying to figure out how to get rid of mine has made me depressed.

My charge nurse says there is not much she can do to save my job, but she has promised not to say anything for now, which I appreciate.

Wendy and I aren't close enough for me to ask her for money, and I'm so embarrassed about what happened that I don't even want to approach her.

With no one to turn to, I decide that I must figure out how to work around my situation.

My first stop is finding an attorney who can tell me if I have a case against Gold Brand. If I do, it will at least help me take care of a life I'm crediting them with.

On my first day off, I did just that, walking into an attorney's office and telling him my story. I didn't want to tell him who the father was, but he said he needed the information, so I gave it to him, and I swear his entire demeanor changed.

He went from looking at me in skepticism to being extremely sympathetic, and because I don't know much about the law, I trusted the man to use his best judgment.

I signed a retainer, but no case details were discussed because the man told me he needed to do more research into the case before he could start, and with his assurances, I felt a little better.

I may not have planned for this, but I won't let this child down, just like my mother never let me down.

Ashton's POV

I was in my office when I heard my parents arguing, which is rare and scary. Troy typically works from home, so I'm left to intrude on whatever’s happening alone.

"Everything okay?" I question, shocked by my mother's red and tear-streaked face.

"Ask your father!" She shouts, throwing a sheet of paper at my distraught looking dad.

"Please Mer, I don't know what that person is talking about." I pick up the letter, and my eyes go wide as I read.

My father cheated, and his mistress is asking him to terminate his parental rights. I can’t imagine how my mother must feel right now, and I’m devastated on her behalf.