Free SEPARATED: CONCLUSION TO UN-RELATED by Kimberly Schwartzmiller

you?”
    “Yeah, I did, thank you very much! I also read the parts about birth control…and I was on the pill.”
    “Oh. Well, that’s good. They’re not one hundred percent effective, you know?”
    “Tyler, I’m not pregnant!”
    “Okay. Well, get ready.”
     
    Tyler ’s entire family was at his house and they all welcomed me back with open arms. I was introduced to the rest of the family, and there were a lot of them. Tyler’s sisters were there.  I was amazed by all the noise and commotion, but I felt welcome and managed to join right in.   
    Tyler ’s sister Jen sat down next to me on the couch and started to nurse her baby. I was kind of shocked, but I didn’t say anything.
    “Jen, we have bedrooms,” Tyler said, looking irritated with his sister.
    “I get tired of being locked away all the time. If you don’t like it, then you go to one of the bedrooms.”
    He rolled his eyes and said, “I’m sorry, Abby.”
    “It’s fine, really. Um, so how old is she?” I asked Jen without looking directly at her.
    “She’s seven months.”
    “She’s beautiful. She’s big for seven months, isn’t she?”
    “Yeah, and she was a big surprise, too.”
    “Oh, you weren’t trying?”
    “No, we were definitely not trying. And, I had no idea I was pregnant. Although I should have known. I was never so sick. I couldn’t eat, I was tired and dizzy. My boobs killed me…”
    “JEN!” Tyler shouted, obviously embarrassed.
    “Oh grow up, Tyler,” she snapped at him and then turned back to me. “I really thought I had the flu. I had only been off my birth control pills for two weeks. I was going to get the Depo shot…”
    She was still talking, I could hear her, but my mind stopped listening, and instead, I focused on what she had just said. She thought it was the flu…couldn’t eat, tired, dizzy, sore breasts…I was suddenly starting to panic. I must have turned white because she finally ceased talking and Tyler was kneeling in front of me. 
    “Abby, are you okay?”
    Off of her birth control pills for two weeks…  
    “Abby!”
    “What?” I said.
    “Are you okay?”
    “Um, I don’t know.” I stood up, not sure what to do. I needed to leave, go somewhere and think.
    “Are you sick, again?” he asked.
    “Oh, God, I don’t think I’m sick…” I said, and started to panic.
    “What’s wrong?” Tyler’s mother asked, coming out of the kitchen with plates of pumpkin pie. I looked down at the plates and had to run to the bathroom.
    I puked…again. I rinsed out my mouth and washed my face and then sat down on the toilet to think.
    It all made sense; no wonder I couldn’t get over the flu. I didn’t have the flu, I had morning sickness. I reached down to my still-flat belly, searching for any possible sign, but felt none.
    “Are you okay, Abby?” Tyler asked through the door.
    I had to pull myself together. I stood up and slowly walked to the door and opened it.  “I um, I’m not feeling well. Do you think you could take me home, please?”
    “Sure. Yeah, come on.”
    “I don’t want to be rude, but would you thank your mom and everyone for me?”
    “Sure. Let’s go.”
    He told his mom I was sick and said he’d be back. 
    “Can I get you anything, Abby?” Mrs. Wills followed him out of the kitchen.
    “No, thank you. I um, I think I just need to go home. Thank you for dinner.”
    “Anytime, honey. Don’t make yourself a stranger.”
    I nodded and let Tyler lead me to his car.
    Once inside his car, he turned to me and said, “Are you okay?”
    I looked up at him and started to shake as the reality was once again sinking in.
    “What is it?”
    “I think you were right…” I was breathing hard again, feeling claustrophobic, although that had never been an issue with me before.
    “Right about what?” he asked.
    “Would you take me home now, please?”
    “Abby…”
    “Tyler, please. I don’t want to cry in front of you, again. Please?” I begged, my eyes starting