The hospital room was too quiet.
Not peaceful just heavy.
Mia Michaelson lay on the bed, eyes half open, her body still weak from fever and exhaustion. The white walls around her made everything feel colder than it should have been.
Khloe sat beside her, arms folded tightly, staring at her like she was trying to understand how everything had changed so fast.
For a long time, neither of them spoke.
Then Khloe finally broke.
"Who is the father of the child?" she asked softly.
Mia's lips parted slightly, but no sound came out at first.
Khloe leaned forward. "Mia. I asked you."
Mia swallowed hard.
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"…David."
The name hung in the air.
Khloe blinked slowly. "David?"
Mia nodded.
And just like that, everything clicked into place in Khloe's mind.
The club.
That night.
The disappearance.
The way Mia had been acting for weeks.
Khloe stood up abruptly.
"So it's that day at the club?" she said sharply. "Emmanuel's birthday party?"
Mia closed her eyes, tears forming instantly.
"Yes," she whispered.
Khloe's voice rose slightly now, mixed with disbelief and frustration.
"So you had sex with him in his car and you didn't tell me?"
Mia shook her head quickly. "I was scared…"
"Scared of what?" Khloe cut in immediately.
Mia's voice broke.
"I don't know… everything happened so fast. I didn't plan it. I didn't even think properly."
Khloe stared at her, stunned.
"Why didn't you take contraceptive?"
Mia wiped her face quickly. "I didn't remember. And I… I didn't know how to even go to the pharmacy. I was scared, Khloe."
"Scared?" Khloe repeated, louder now.
"Why didn't you tell me? I could have helped you! I could have gotten it for you!"
Mia flinched slightly. "I was ashamed…"
That word stopped Khloe completely.
She stared at her best friend like she couldn't believe what she just heard.
"Jesus, Mia…" Khloe said softly now.
"Ashamed? Of what? Haven't we been together since forever? What is wrong with you?"
Mia started crying silently. "I'm sorry…"
Khloe sat back down slowly, rubbing her forehead like her thoughts were too heavy.
"I don't even know what to say to you right now," she admitted.
A long silence followed.
Then Khloe spoke again, softer but serious.
"How are you going to tell your mom you are pregnant?"
Mia froze.
"And school?" Khloe continued. "Your future? Everything?"
Mia said nothing.
Khloe's eyes darkened slightly. "And David… David of all people. Do you think he can take care of you and a baby?"
Still silence.
Khloe exhaled deeply.
"What would your father say?" she added quietly.
That one hit harder.
Mia's lips trembled.
"I don't know…"
Khloe shook her head slowly. "You're one month gone. I can't even advise you to take an abortion."
Mia looked up quickly. "I don't want to abort it."
Khloe paused.
"You're sure?" she asked carefully.
Mia nodded through tears. "I'm scared… but I can't do that."
Khloe leaned back, overwhelmed.
"God," she whispered. "Listen to yourself…"
She stood again, pacing slightly.
"I don't even know what to advise you right now," she said honestly. "This is too much."
She stopped and looked at Mia again, voice softer.
"You're going to have to make this decision yourself."
Mia wiped her tears slowly.
Alone in the hospital room, the weight of everything pressed down on her harder than before.
Not just fear.
Not just confusion.
But reality.
The hospital corridor felt tighter than before.
Like the walls were closing in on David's thought
And what she was carrying.
David finally spoke first, voice low.
"I think I'm the father of the child."
Emmanuel froze.
Then turned sharply. "Bro… what?"
David didn't repeat it. He didn't need to.
Emmanuel stepped back slightly, running a hand over his head. "Ahh David… I told you."
Silence.
Then frustration hit his voice.
"Guy, you've ruined that girl's life." He pointed slightly at David. "You could have chosen anyone not her. She's too naive for all this."
David's jaw tightened. "It wasn't planned."
Emmanuel scoffed. "Planned or not, it has happened. Broo, you messed up man. So what's your decision now?"
David exhaled sharply.
"I think she should abort it."
Emmanuel blinked. "Huh?"
David looked away. "I'm not ready to be a father. What will I tell my parents? What will I say? I'm still in school."
Emmanuel stared at him like he didn't recognize him.
"So you're just going to run?"
David snapped slightly. "It's not that simple!"
Emmanuel stepped closer. "See, David, you have to take responsibility."
David shook his head. "It's easy for you to say it like that."
Emmanuel's voice rose. "Omo, she's not even done with school either!
Don't be selfish."
A tense silence followed.
Emmanuel sighed. "Let's just hear what she has to say first."
They walked back toward the hospital room.
The air felt heavier with every step.
Khloe was already inside, sitting stiffly beside Mia.
When David entered, Mia looked up immediately.
Her eyes were red, tired.
David swallowed.
"am I the father?" he asked quietly
Mia nodded.
"Yes."
The room went silent.
David closed his eyes briefly.
Then opened them again.
"So what's your decision?" he asked, voice colder now than before. "Because me… I'm not ready to be a father."
That sentence landed like a slap.
Emmanuel's face tightened instantly. "Guy, what's your problem?"
David turned to him. "What?"
"I thought you said you love this girl," Emmanuel said sharply.
David hesitated.
"I do," he admitted quietly. Then his voice hardened again. "But I love my life too. I can't stop school just to be a father. I can't."
Silence.
Mia's breath hitched slightly.
David looked at her now, expression conflicted but firm.
"I'm sorry, Mia… but you have to make a decision."
The words broke something in the room.
Khloe stood up immediately, fury flashing in her eyes.
"Oh wow," she said bitterly. "So this is the stupid boy you were attracted to?"
David looked at her. "Watch your tone."
Khloe laughed coldly. "Or what?"
Mia reached out weakly. "Khloe… stop…"
But Khloe wasn't done.
"You see what I told you?" she said, pointing slightly at David. "This is the man you trusted with your life."
David's jaw tightened. "This is not easy for me either."
Khloe scoffed. "Not easy? She is carrying your child!"
Silence again.
Mia suddenly spoke, voice shaking.
"I can't abort it," she said softly. "I don't want to die."
The room froze.
David's expression shifted slightly.
Emmanuel looked away.
Khloe immediately turned back to Mia, softer now. "Okay… okay, calm down…"
But the damage was already done.
David stepped back slowly.
He looked at Mia one last time.
Something in his eyes wanted to stay.
But fear won.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
Then he turned.
And walked out of the hospital room.
Angrily.
Without looking back.
And the sound of that door closing felt like the beginning of a life none of them were ready to live.