"Sadly, I didn't grow up in a Christian home," Mrs. Trenton said, smiling faintly as she stared down at her tea. "My parents were mostly good to me; I certainly didn't lack for anything. Growing up, I went to a nice enough public school and had an older brother who watched out for me. I thought I was happy, and I didn't think there was anything in the world that I could possibly want or need. But I did need something — someone, to be more precise — and that something wasn't anything I could get on my own.

If God hadn't gotten ahold of me in my senior year of high school, I likely wouldn't be sitting here telling you my story at all," Mrs. Trenton admitted.

Kat frowned, but she didn't say anything to interrupt Mrs. Trenton's story. Truth be told, she was rather intrigued by the woman's storytelling even if she didn't yet believe that God was real or as good as Mrs. Trenton seemed to think he was. Crossing her arms, she sat back in her chair and listened to the tale unfold as the moments ticked by.

***

The day was cold and blustery. Felicity Trenton pulled her coat closer to her as she trudged wearily up the steps to her front porch. She dreaded telling her parents the news; they wouldn't receive it well. Really, what parent would want to hear that their eighteen-year-old daughter had given away her virginity and ended up pregnant as a result?

She almost didn't believe it was true herself, and the realization that she was going to lose her ability to go to college because of her foolish mistake wasn't something she'd quite accepted yet. When she did, she felt certain that the fear and despair would set in to replace the cold emptiness she felt inside.

After all this, what had it really been worth? Nothing. That one night of drunken pleasure hadn't been worth a thing, and all that was left was an ashen taste in her mouth and a child she didn't want or know how to raise. It had been roughly a month and a half since the party, and she had regretted her decision to go, drink, and then sleep with the first guy to flirt with her ever since. She'd known it was a bad choice even before she'd found out about the baby.

Well, I'm stuck with this now. I have to at least tell Mom and Dad. Even if I abort the baby, I can't face them ever again if I don't 'fess up to what I did. She bit her lip nervously as she walked up to the front door. She stared at the cool, frosted glass exterior of her home's entrance; she didn't recall ever feeling so much anguish at the thought of entering the house. It was a cheerful place overall, and she hated that it now filled her with trepidation and discomfort.

Steeling herself, she grasped the handle and opened the door, knocking the light dusting of snow from her boots as she walked in. A shiver ran down her spine as she reluctantly removed her boots and coat at the door. Everything in her seemed raw and fragile. Her fingers twitched with an unspoken desire to turn the knob and release her from this misery. She could just disappear. She could run away and never face the ignominy of admitting to her parents that she'd done something they would be ashamed of.

Deeper inside, she wondered why she should feel her behavior had been wrong. Her parents had warned her against unprotected sex, and they had mentioned that she really ought to stay pure for her husband, but they hadn't explained why. They didn't have an excuse. A few of her friends at school were religious; they had a reason for their chastity. Felicity didn't believe in God; why should she remain pure if there was no God setting right and wrong? She was the owner of her own life. She had a right to do as she pleased with her body, didn't she?

Somehow, that answer fell flat and crumbled to dust inside her mind. She disregarded the unease that came with the guilty feeling as she forayed on into the warmth of her home. Wrapping her arms around herself, she wandered reluctantly into the kitchen, each step dragging as she headed for the table where her parents and brother would already be eating dinner.

She was late tonight. The conversation with her baby's father hadn't gone well. He'd refused to take responsibility, and he certainly wouldn't help her at all. Faced with this realization, she had broken down into a tearful mess and fled. The jerk hadn't bothered to come after her. She didn't want him to after all that.

"Mom? Dad?" She winced at the croaky sound of her own voice.

They looked up, frowning. They seemed more worried than upset as they took in her wind-tossed, snow-covered hair and damp jeans.

"Felicity?" her mother asked, getting up from the table to take her daughter's chin in her strong, warm fingers.

Some of the chill left Felicity with her mother's touch. For a second, she almost believed her transgression might be forgiven. But that was only for a minute.

"What's wrong, sweetheart? What happened?"

Reality was a harsh beast that wouldn't be tamed. Felicity lowered her eyes. They wouldn't forgive this. Or if they did, they wouldn't do so for a long time. She knew her parents. After all their warnings and forbidding, they would be furious to discover that not only had she gone and drank illegally, but she'd also slept with a random guy from her literature class. Worse yet — did the nightmare never end? — she'd become pregnant as a result.

"Mom..." she whispered, her voice thick to her ears.

"What?" she asked, leading Felicity out into the living room and pushing her down onto the sofa. "Felicity, what's the matter? You're scaring me."

Felicity swallowed hard, her parents' concerned voices muffled by the loud thudding of her heartbeat drumming in her chest. She felt like it might beat right out of her ribcage if she waited. "I... I made a mistake, Mom," she said.

Tears pushed past her charcoaled lashes as she swallowed the lump in her throat, trying to find courage to finish the words that would break their hearts. Alex stared curiously at her from the kitchen. She hung her head in shame, unable to meet his gaze. He was a good guy. He wouldn't ever get drunk, nor would he take advantage of a drunk girl like the guy she'd been with had done with her. At twenty-two, Alex was everything Felicity wished she was: steady, smart, and sober. He didn't do stupid stuff, and he never drank. He was taking her parents' advice and staying pure for his spouse, even if he didn't have a real reason why he ought to do so.

"What did you do?" her father inquired, sitting down across from her and resting his hands on his knees. "It can't be all that bad, Felicity."

She shook her head, sniffling to keep her nose from running. "I'm... I..."

"You're what?" her mom asked, her frown deepening as she sat beside Felicity and took her daughter's hands in hers.

"I'm pregnant," she whispered, cheeks flaming and eyes averted.

***

"You were pregnant at eighteen?" Kat asked, her eyes wide.

"Yes. In today's world, is it really that big of a surprise?" Mrs. Trenton asked, sighing.

"Well... I guess not..."

"How old are you, dear?" Mrs. Trenton asked.

"Twenty-two."

"So you are only four years older than I was."

"But I had a husband supporting me and my child," Kat objected, shaking her head. "It's different."

"Yes, yes, it is."

"So... How did they respond?"

Mrs. Trenton smiled. "Not nearly as horribly as I expected. My father was rightly furious, especially when he found out that the boy who'd stolen my virginity and gotten me pregnant had walked out when I told him the truth. My mother was upset, but she was also sympathetic. Both of them encouraged me to abort the baby, saying that I didn't have to sacrifice my college career and whole life over it."

"Did you take their advice?"

Mrs. Trenton pursed her lips, looking at the clock briefly. "Well, I was going to..."

"But you didn't? Why not? I probably would've..." Kat said, uncrossing her arms and leaning forward in her seat.

Mrs. Trenton laughed. "It's getting very late in the afternoon, Katarina. I'm sure you have stuff to finish, and I really should be getting dinner started. You look like you need a nap too, no offense, my dear. Why don't you come back tomorrow if you've got time? I'll tell you more of my tale then, if you like."

Kat smiled, feeling happier than she had in ages. "Okay, I'd like that. What time?"

"Any time really works for me. What's best for you?"

"Afternoons, probably. Would one o'clock work?" she inquired.

"One o'clock is perfectly fine. I'll see you then, Katarina!" Mrs. Trenton said, showing her to the door.

Kat paused on the doorstep. "Thank you, Mrs. Trenton. Truly, I appreciate this more than you know. It's been a long time since anyone has shown me this sort of attentiveness or really cared about my emotional state for more than a good piece of news or gossip. I'm afraid even my friends are more interested in a good sob story than they are in what I'm going through."

"I'm so sorry that's the case, Kat, but I'll be here for you. I know what you're going through because I've been there. Now, you take care of yourself, and I'll see you tomorrow." She patted Kat's hand between her wrinkled ones with a smile and went back inside.

Kat watched her shut the door and stared at the little house for a long moment, unsure what to feel. She was certainly grateful to the elderly woman. On the other hand, she barely knew her neighbor, and she had just bared her soul to the woman. Was that really a wise decision? But after the beginning of Mrs. Trenton's personal story, she doubted that the woman would harm her. In fact, the woman seemed more bent of helping Kat in any way she could.

Uncertainly, she turned and made her way back into her own house. The seeds of redemption were already being planted in her heart, but she didn't recognize it yet, and it would be a long time before she would.

)