The Wrong Woman

Candice hung her head, her voice barely above a whisper as she uttered sadly, "I'm pregnant."

Elio's heart skipped a beat at her revelation; excitement electrified every nerve and fiber of his being.

He sprang up from his seat, almost feeling the urge to jump up and shout at the top of his lungs to release the excitement coursing through him. Yet, he managed to rein in his emotions. Candice was carrying his baby? Was he really going to be the father to Candice's child? It felt surreal, like a dream. He struggled to contain the overwhelming happiness within him.

His reaction startled Candice. She glanced up and noticed his clenched fists, his back turned toward her, and his head tilted upward. She struggled to decipher his emotions.

Was he, like her, grappling with the harshness of reality? Or did he share her sense of being lost and uncertain about the next steps?

Candice had steeled herself for this conversation. Softly, she said, "Don't worry. I'm not here to force any responsibilities on you. I just thought you should know. And if I decide to go through with an abortion, I would like you to be there with me."

Her words struck Elio like a sledgehammer, crashing into him mercilessly. It felt like he had plummeted from the heavens to the earth in a split second.

into his seat, his expression grave as he asked with

met his gaze diffidently. "Yes, I can't have

repercussions if her family discovered her pregnancy before marriage. They would undoubtedly come after

His stern voice softened as he said, "Candice, you can't go through with the abortion. Please,

of utter bewilderment. This wasn't the response she had anticipated. She had assumed Elio would want to get rid of the baby even more than she did, considering the danger their child's existence posed to

lips and swallowed hard, his voice hoarse as he stammered, "If you don't mind, I-I

them together, his breathing labored. He fixed his gaze on Candice as if

then proposing because of the baby might be considered unethical, but it

being beaten to death, all for the sake of having Candice by

After collecting herself, she

are distantly related. If my family found out that I'm pregnant with your baby out of wedlock, they'll beat you to

its father. They might cripple me at worst, and if that's my punishment, I'll accept it.