"Don't tell me you're wearing that. And why did you get rid of the hair?" Susan asked.
"Told you, it looked too boring," Tina replied, eyeing Susan's long, red-plaited, loose-fitting hair and Susan said, "You need something for your hair. You'll thank me for it."
"No thank you. It's too stressful. I wonder how you do it."
"Then at least change the way you're dressed. You still look like a man."
"Oh come on. I'm not gonna wear a skirt and heels. That's not how I dress."
"But I thought you said you want to learn how to be a lady?"
"Well, we can start with other things like that. I can't possibly start dressing like a lady in the afternoon, can I? It'll take all afternoon," Susan said with a pout and Tina let out a loud sigh.
"Fine! I'll let you be for now, because I don't want you to miss your interview. Come down for breakfast once you're done getting ready," Susan said.
Kim looked at herself in the mirror. It was indeed hard to tell she was a lady. She looked nothing like Susan. Her hair was cut short, her clothes weren't the fancy dresses Susan usually wore. She had on a shirt , a pair of pants and sandals.
"whatever!" she said and hurried downstairs.
"What are we having?" she asked once she sat down at the table.
"I made fish and chips. And don't even ask me for details on that," Susan replied.
"It's good!" Kim replied, crunching on the crisp, greasy potato chips.
The moment she put the fish in her mouth, a wave of nausea swept over her and she gasped. She spat the fish out and ran upstairs to throw up. She violently hurled and there was a lot of it. She managed to finish and run down again.
"Kim?" Susan called. "are you okay?"
"I don't know? I don't think so. I've been feeling feverish for a couple of days now ," Kim replied and then she ran into the bathroom.
Susan followed her up. "when last did you see your period?" she asked suddenly , her eyes showing concern.
"It's been a while," Kim said.
Susan frowned. "We better do a pregnancy test. You know, just to make sure," Susan suggested.
Kim gulped. "Oh god," she said, her voice squeaking. "No!"
"What?" Susan asked.
"I can't. I just can't," Kim said.
"Why not?" Susan asked in surprise.
"The pregnancy thing! I was raped, remember? If I'm pregnant then... I won't know the father of my child?"
"you're jumping into conclusion. Don't assume, let's do a test first ," Susan suggested.
Kim groaned in despair. "oh my god! I hate this. This is not happening! It's all my fault, I'm such a fool! If I hadn't done that, if I hadn't done those things..." Kim said,
"Stop blaming yourself Kim. You were naive and you were trying to help him. There's no need to think like that. You're a nice girl," Susan said and hugged Kim.
The two went to the hospital and had a pregnancy test. It was positive. Kim didn't know what to say. She kept thinking of what had happened and her mind kept turning over and over. Kim wished she could erase the memories.
" What do I do now?" kim asked as they were leaving the hospital.
"As much as I'd love to tell you to abort the baby, I can't. That's illegal and unethical. But then again, I'm sure you can find a doctor who would do it," Susan said and then she thought for a moment. "You're not keeping it. Are you?"
* * * *
"Why didn't you come to me when this happened?"
"I didn't think I'd get pregnant. I just wanted to forget to and move on."
Damian sighed. "what do you plan to do now?"
They stared at each other. Kim gazed directly into Damian's eyes.
"I want to know that you will be the father of my child. Uncle Damian you're the only person in earth I can trust. As much as I want to get rid of the baby, I can't. Abortion is too risky a step to take and I won't risk ending my life. I want you to be the father of my child."
Damian's eyes were clouded with sadness, "you are serious?"
She nodded. "I'll keep it. Once I give birth, I'll send the child to you. I need to finish what I've started. If the baby remains with me, I have no idea what I'll teach it and I won't be able to protect the baby. I can't risk the baby's life."
Damian nodded his head in silence. "It's true. I will be your father and you can trust me. I won't force myself on you. I'll leave you alone and you can finish this once you graduate and get a job. You're my only family."
* * * *
Her breathing was heavy, like she was struggling to keep her emotions in check.
Well, it appears she was because the moment she turned away from the window, she screamed. A scream so vicious and filled with anger that it vibrated through the air.
Her scream was so powerful, that it's possible that the walls were shaking. She held on to her breath, but no matter how much she tried to contain her emotions, her voice kept growing louder.
There was something else, something buried deep inside her.
Her thoughts weren't very coherent, and for a moment, they almost sounded like a faint whisper.
"There's a baby now? She's pregnant? You stupid fool! " she yelled and kicked the man Kneeling before her." That was supposed to be me. I should carry his child and not some street girl . You stupid, brainless bastard! The fuck did you do?!"
The man held his head and nodded in agreement.
"What should I do with her?"
He had no idea what to say to her, so he stayed quiet.
Instead of yelling at him again, she seemed to calm down. She looked at him and suddenly, she said
"Do what you must but that child should not live. Let it die."