It was the scariest day of my life. I remembered thinking, " Mom is going to be mad at me." A month went by and I found out I was pregnant. I was 15 1/2 years old. Protecting myself never really crossed my mind (at least not at the time). Guessed I thought it wouldn't happen to me. I felt so confused and scared. Having fun and not thinking of the consequences, until it was too late.
While at school, I started feeling sick. Immediately, I diagnosed myself with a stomach virus. After all, I had just eaten shrimp fried rice. Maybe it didn't have a chance to settle. I dashed to the bathroom praying I would make it. Having gone through so much, I didn't realize my period was also late. When I got home that evening, I told mom how I felt. She had the strangest look on her face. A look of concern, but also anger. "Are you pregnant?" she asked. "No, Mom." I said with certainty. As she walked out of the room, she whispered, " I hope not."
Days went by and I began to get sicker. Mom knew something was wrong. As soon as I walked in the door from school she gave me a pregnancy test. "I don't need this, Mama." I stuttered. Not backing down she mumbled, "Go to the bathroom and take the test." While walking away, I got a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. I couldn't be pregnant. I'm young and I am still in school, I kept telling myself; hoping I wasn't actually pregnant. Reading the test was new to me and so when it showed two lines I thought that meant it was negative. I couldn't wait to show her. To my surprise, I was pregnant. I never thought of my future until that very moment. How could I be pregnant? Tears began to run down my cheek. My first thought was to run, but what good would that do? Frightened, alone and nervous, I swallowed down the spit from inside my mouth.
"Don't be scared," I heard my mom say, "I'll help you as much as I can." Even though I knew she was disappointed, she made me feel better. That was one of the scariest moments in my life. From that day forward, I became a woman trapped inside a girl body. Ready or not, I was going to be a mother. Sometimes we make choices, but fail to think of the consequences. I learned the hard way. Being pregnant was something I didn't prepare for. It taught me responsibility. I had to put away childish things and learn to be an adult overnight. Even though I was young, I accepted the hand I dealt myself. It was my royal flush. I'm much older and now have more kids, but I will never forget that frightened day that left an impression in my life. She is one of my greatest, yet surprising accomplishments.
