Joy in the Storm

Joy in the Storm

Her stomach was a constant reminder that she had been brutally violated. How was she ever supposed to get past something like this? This past year at school, every boy had tried many times to get into her pants. Somehow, she had managed to keep them at bay and still remain popular. And now this, thirteen and pregnant. At least she was supposed to turn fourteen before the baby was due.

******

That fateful event happened during Spring Break while all of her friends were off vacationing with their families. This year, her family had decided to spend time alone at home. Steph had finally convinced her mom that she was old enough to walk to the store by herself which hadn't been easy.

He wasn't the hottest boy, but cute enough, and he seemed to be very sweet. He kept staring at her which quickly got her attention. She felt her pulse quicken as he began to walk towards her. What should she say to him? He was definitely older than the boys that she was used to handling.

"Hi, my name is Rick, what's yours?"

"Steph," she replied.

"Why haven't I ever seen you at The Spot?"

"What's the spot?"

"It's only a spot where all the cool kids hang out. Well, at least that is what I thought until now."

"I have never heard of it."

"It's just around the corner. Come on, I will show you where it is."

"I can't, I have to get back home."

"It won't take that long, I will just show you where it is and maybe you can meet me there tomorrow. It's not that far away."

"Ok, but we have to hurry."

*********

Why did she give in? All she had to say was, "No! I have to go." She could have walked off and life would have continued on like normal. Now, she had to lay here in this stupid hospital bed, tormented day and night with memories that were slowly coming back to her.

She had woke from her coma about two weeks ago only to find that she was pregnant and too far along to abort. They had managed to keep her and the baby alive all this time. Why would they even want to keep that demon seed alive?

Since she woke, her blood pressure went up threateningly high. They were giving her medication to help the mood swings but she was still in a deep state of depression. She looked over at her mom who had stayed strong this whole time that she had been here. Steph knew that her mom felt guilty for letting her go to the store alone, but wasn't sure what to say to her.

Her mom came over and rubbed her arm gently, saying "Baby, everything is going to be alright.  I know that it's hard to see that, now.  But, everything will work itself out."

But her young mind could not grasp hold of that fact just yet. She smiled weakly at her mind and said, "Mom, I don't blame you for this.  None of this is your fault.  You tell me everything is going to be ok, but I don't feel ok while you are feeling guilty about this."

"Oh, Baby!  You are absolutely right.  I am telling you that everything will be alright but inside I do feel like it is my fault.  So, I will work on my feelings of guilt and you work on your worrying.  Is that a deal?"

"That's a deal, Mom."

She tried to control her emotions, but her waking moments were filled with painful memories of the disastrous event. Then her mom would come along and try to smooth it over into sunshine and rainbows. She just wasn't feeling the silver lining just yet. All she could see was the thunder and lightning and the rain and hail.

One night as Steph lay thinking, the machines in her room started beeping and blinking. She knew something was wrong, but it was like she was looking at herself from above. At that point, Steph passed out. The machines finally woke her mother and she called the nurse in. Several nurses came in and they began to hustle and bustle around Steph. Shortly, a few more came in and moved her into the gurney and whisked her away. One nurse stayed behind long enough to fill her mom in on the fact that Steph's condition had worsened and they would have to take the baby immediately.

*********

When Steph awoke she was feeling very disoriented. The nurses cleaned her baby up and brought it over and placed her with great care into Steph's arms and said, "Congratulations, it's a girl."

One look into Joy's soft brown eyes and Steph could feel a huge weight lift off of her and at that moment she knew that somehow, everything was going to be all right.