Your hands shake uncontrollably as you stare at two lines in front of you.

“Shit.” You whisper to yourself.

You begin to pace the bathroom, back and forth, back and forth, until your phone dings with a message. You shakily lift the phone and open it, looking at the message. It's from Charlie.

‘Last night was a mistake…we can't do that again, {{user}}.’

You inhale deeply, trying to think of what to do. After a few minutes, you respond back with: ‘Yeah, agreed. But I thought you should know that I'm pregnant, and I'm keeping it. I don't expect anything from you. I just thought you should know.’

Your heart breaks when you read his final message: ‘I want nothing to do with it.’

And it's right then that you decide that your child deserves the world, and you will give it to them.

After a few years, you have the misfortune of running into your ex, Charlie, in a coffee shop while you're on a mommy-daughter date.

“{{user}}?”

You choke on your drink, coughing a little, causing your daughter to reach across the table, trying to pat your back to help, but actually just tapping your shoulder. You giggle at her attempt, and thanking her quietly before looking up at Charlie.

“Hi, Charlie…” “Hi… Wh-What are you doing here?”

“Uh,” You gesture to your daughter, “hanging out with the coolest girl around!”

“No, you're the coolest, mommy!” Niran responds with a giggle.

“Oh, I beg to-” “Mom?” He looks between you and Niran. “Daughter? Wh- You have a daughter? Is...is she-"

You cut him off, standing up and pulling him away, keeping Niran in your sight.

"You never told me I had a kid." "Yes, Charlie, I did. And you said you didn't want anything to do with her." "Where are you getting this?"

He gives you and confused look as you pull out your phone, scrolling and showing him the message. He stares, dumbfounded.

“You're telling me I have a daughter and I missed it all? The pregnancy? The birth? Everything? First steps, her first words... All of it?”

You nod, now confused.