Even Angels Fall

                           ~~~~Christina~~~~

As soon as Mike closed his bedroom door behind him, I felt more alone than I ever had before. Which was ironic considering that I wasn't alone at all. He might need those tests to solidify this in his mind and to be sure, but I knew. There was no other possible explanation for me to be throwing up. I only ever did it when I was really sick, and I rarely got sick. 

I couldn't remember the last time I'd been even close to that sick, and I certainly wasn't sick now. I felt fine before I had that food in my hands and I felt fine now. I was definitely not sick.

That was the main thing I'd been watching for over the last few weeks since it was so common in pregnancy and so rare for me. There was no doubt in my mind now. I was having a baby. These pregnancy tests would just confirm it.

I'd done one thing, my entire life, without thinking out every minor detail again and again, and I wound up pregnant. It didn't seem fair! So much for not getting caught for my little trip out of the house. This was the very worst possible way to be caught. My parents were going to be so disappointed. When I said that I'd willingly take my punishment, I had no idea it would be so severe.

My thoughts must have been going in circles, because before I knew it, Mike was back with a paper bag full of pregnancy tests. I actually laughed when I looked inside. He'd taken me literally. There had to be twenty boxes in there.

"Thorough." I smiled.

"You said to get a bunch." He looked a little embarrassed. 

"I know I did," I said. "Thanks."

He handed me the bag and the magnitude of what I was about to do hit me hard. I already knew the answer, but this felt so final. So official. After I did this, there would be no way for Mike or I to pretend like maybe it wasn't true. We wouldn't be able to pretend that maybe we weren't going to be parents. 

That was the most terrifying thing I'd thought yet, and my hands started shaking.

"No matter what," Mike reminded me, putting his hands on my shoulders.

I nodded, grateful that he was being so strong, but I was still scared to death. I took a deep breath and went into the bathroom to seal our fates.

                             ~~~~~Mike~~~~~

I sat holding Christina on the bathroom floor for what had to be the longest five minutes of my life, praying that somehow she was wrong and that those tests would be negative.

She didn't seem to think there was any way that could happen, but amazingly she was calm now. She was still a little dazed, but she wasn't crying or anything anymore. She was sure of the answer, but somehow she was sitting calmly, waiting for the tests to finish.

I was forcing myself to stay calm for her. Inside I felt like I was about to explode. What in the world was I going to do if it were true? How was I supposed to take care of her? Of them?

The timer dinged and it was deafeningly loud in the quiet little room. Christina and I just looked at each other for a minute. 

She squeezed my hand tightly before she was able to get up and go look at the results lying across the counter. 

I stood up, anxiously and watched as she looked everything over. She put her hand to her mouth but didn't move otherwise. After a few seconds I couldn't take waiting any longer. I went over and put my arms around her from behind.

"What?" I looked down on the little white sticks with pink and blue markings. I couldn't begin to decipher what they all meant.

"There's not even one," she said quietly.