Free SEPARATED: CONCLUSION TO UN-RELATED by Kimberly Schwartzmiller Page A

to fill with tears.
    “Okay,” he said softly and headed toward my house.
    When he pulled into my driveway he said, “Okay, you’re home. I don’t really want to leave you…like this.”
    “I’m…fine…”
    “Are you?”
    I shook my head no and the tears started. I couldn’t stop them. Tyler scooted over to me and pulled me into his arms. I was so distraught, I let him.
    “It’s okay. Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad.”
    I looked up into his eyes as the tears poured from mine and nodded. “I know you need to get back to your family, but would you take me to a store, please?”
    “Yeah, sure. What do you need?”
    I swallowed hard and whispered, “A pregnancy test.”
    He nodded and squeezed my hand and drove me to the only store open Thanksgiving night.
                 
    “Thank you,” I said when Tyler walked me to my door.
    “Can I come in with you, for a few minutes? I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
    “I’ll be fine.”
    “Okay. I um, I hope it’s not…well, I hope you get the answer you want. I swear I won’t say a word.”
    “Thank you.” I watched him walk toward his car and suddenly knew I didn’t want to be alone. “Tyler?”
    “Yeah?”
    “I changed my mind. Can you stay for a little while?” I asked, terrified to be alone when I peed on that little stick; a little stick that could change my life, forever.
    “Yeah, sure.” He walked inside with me and I offered him something to drink.
    “No, I’m okay.”
    I walked around the living room, nervously straightening this and that and finally Tyler said, “Abby, you’re going to have to face it…sooner or later,” he said, handing me the bag I had set down the second I stepped into the house.
    “I know…I’m scared.”
    “I know, but Kellan loves you. It’ll be okay.”
    I looked up and knew he was right. Kellan did love me, and I knew he’d be a great father. The only problem was…I knew Kellan couldn’t be the father. Images of Joe flooded my mind. That one night weeks after Nancy took my pills away. It almost made me stumble, but Tyler was there and steadied me.
    “I think you need to take the test now.”
    I nodded and took the test from him and walked into the bathroom.
    I followed the directions and peed on the stick and was horrified to see the word ‘PREGNANT’ appear almost immediately. “Oh, God!” I said and sat down on the closed toilet lid.
    “Abby, are you okay? Is it…positive?” he asked.
    I reached my hand down to my belly and knew it was Joe’s baby. I was sick again, heaving into the toilet until I couldn’t heave anymore. 
    “Abby!”
    I looked up at the door and knew I wasn’t ready to face it, yet, if ever. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
    “Well? Are you?”
    “I’ll be right out.”
    I threw the stick back into the box and forced myself to calm down. I straightened up and brushed my teeth and slowly opened the door.
    I smiled when I walked out of the bathroom. “It’s just the flu. See, I told you I wasn’t…pregnant.” The word stuck in my throat.
    “Oh, that’s great. Are you feeling better now?”
    “Yeah, thanks.”
    “Well, I’m glad you’re not pregnant, but maybe you should see a doctor. You’ve lost so much weight…”
    Not for long , I thought to myself. “If I don’t feel better soon, I will. Thank you for everything.”
    “Will I see you before I leave?”
    “Yeah, of course. Go back to your family. I’ll talk to you later.”
    I walked him to the door and waved as he drove away. I closed the door and stared down at the box in my hand. I pulled the little stick back out of the box and had to sit down as I stared at that dreaded word that was even darker now. I ran to my room and threw myself down on my bed. Why did this have to happen? I counted back to that night…with Joe, and realized I was already almost two months pregnant. I didn’t pay attention to the signs, and even when Justin and Tyler both confronted me about it, I