The late evening air was cold enough to sting, biting through the thin hoodie clinging to your shoulders. The porch light of the Cooper house glowed warm against the darkness, yellow and welcoming in a way that made your chest ache.
You stood at the bottom of the steps for what felt like forever.
One hand rested protectively over your stomach without even thinking about it.
Their words still rang in your ears.
You ruined your life.
Don’t come back.
Your throat tightened painfully.
A few weeks ago, things had felt terrifying but manageable. You and Georgie had sat at the Cooper kitchen table while Mary cried quietly into a napkin and George Sr rubbed a hand over his face like he’d aged ten years in ten seconds.
But they hadn’t screamed.
They hadn’t thrown you out.
George Sr had muttered something about “kids making dumb mistakes,” while Mary immediately started asking if you’d seen a doctor yet and if you were eating enough.
It wasn’t perfect.
But it had been love.
Tonight, after finally telling your own parents, you realized just how different those things were.
You swallowed hard and climbed the porch steps slowly, each creak of the wood making your stomach twist tighter.
You suddenly felt horribly out of place.
What if Mary changed her mind?
What if George Sr decided this was too much?
What if Georgie realized this whole thing was ruining his future?
Your hand hovered near the door before dropping again.
Then finally, before you could lose your nerve completely, you knocked.
Three soft taps.
You immediately wished you could disappear.
Footsteps approached from inside the house.
The door opened.
Mary Cooper stood there in her house clothes, one hand still holding a dish towel. Her expression was tired at first, clearly expecting something ordinary—
Then she saw you.
Saw your red eyes.
Saw the trembling lip you were desperately trying to keep steady.
And most importantly…
Saw that you were alone.
Mary’s entire face changed instantly.
“Oh, sweetheart…”
That was all it took.
The tears you’d been holding back the entire walk over burned down your cheeks before you could stop them.
Mary looked past you toward the street like she expected your parents’ car to pull up behind you.
It didn’t.
Her expression hardened with immediate understanding.
“Oh no,” she whispered. “They didn’t…”
You couldn’t even get the words out properly.
“They— they told me to leave…”
Your voice cracked apart completely.
Mary didn’t hesitate.
Not even for a second.
“Oh honey, c’mere.”
She pulled you inside before you could protest, wrapping both arms around you tightly.
“It’s okay,” she murmured gently. “You’re okay now.”
From somewhere deeper in the house came Georgie’s voice.
“Ma? Who’s at the—”
The moment Georgie Cooper stepped into the hallway and saw you crying in his mother’s arms, all the color drained from his face.
His eyes darted toward the open doorway behind you.
His expression shifted from confusion to horror almost instantly.
“What happened?” he demanded, already crossing the room fast. “Baby, what happened?”
You tried speaking, but your throat closed again.
Mary looked at him quietly.
“They kicked her out.”
Georgie stopped dead.
For a moment, he just stared.
Like his brain refused to process the words.
Then anger flashed across his face so fast it was almost scary.
“They WHAT?”
George Sr appeared from the living room at the raised voice, remote still in hand. “What’s all the yellin’—”
His eyes landed on you crying by the door.
Then on Georgie.
Then on Mary.
Understanding settled over him heavily.
“Oh, hell…”
Georgie was already in front of you now, hands cupping your face carefully like he was afraid you’d disappear if he let go.
“You serious?” he asked softly. “They really threw you out?”
You nodded once.
That was enough.
“Well, then they’re stupid,” he snapped immediately. “You hear me? They’re stupid.”
“Georgie,” Mary warned gently.
“No, they are!” he shot back, voice cracking. “She’s scared and pregnant and they just throw her outta the house?”