One night, Lena showed up at my place completely broken. Ryan had ended things—and almost immediately started seeing someone else. I stayed with her while she cried, knowing she had loved him deeply.
A month later, she dropped a truth that changed both our lives forever.
“Evan, I’m pregnant.”
I froze. “Did you tell Ryan?”
“I did. He said he wants nothing to do with the baby. He told me to get rid of it—said he’s not ready to be a father.”
I was furious. “That’s unbelievable. What are you going to do?”
She sobbed. “I don’t want an abortion, but I’m still in school. I can’t raise a child alone. My parents will disown me.”
Before logic could stop me, the words spilled out.
“I’ll be there. We’ll get married. I’ll help raise the baby. You won’t be alone.”
She looked at me like she was seeing me for the first time. “I can’t ask that of you. I don’t feel that way about you.”
“That doesn’t matter,” I said. “This isn’t about romance. It’s about doing the right thing.”
She hesitated. “Are you sure? That’s a huge sacrifice.”
I was sure. Even if my heart hoped for something more, I couldn’t abandon her when she needed someone most.