A Difficult Choice
As Olivia walked through the park, she climbed onto the bridge and suddenly paused, leaning against the railings to peer down. The river below was cold and murkyperhaps not deep, but the thought of falling sent a shiver through her. Shaking off the fear, she hurried on.
She had spent the night at her friend Emilys after fleeing home during a terrible argument. Emilys mother, Mrs. Thompson, had welcomed her warmly without prying.
«Come in, love, Emilys in her room,» shed said, sensing Olivias distress. She served the girls tea and biscuits before sending them to bed. The next morning, feeling guilty for overstaying, Olivia decided to return home.
«Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. I should gomy parents must be worried,» she murmured before leaving.
Crossing the bridge, Olivia noticed a small church shed never paid attention to before. Compelled by something she couldnt name, she stepped inside.
A quiet service was underway. Near the front, her eyes settled on a painting of a young woman cradling an infant. She couldnt look away. After a while, an elderly woman in a headscarf whispered beside her,
«Dont overthink it, dear. Have the baby. Everything will be alright.»
Olivia startled. «How did you know?»
«Love, Ive lived long enough to recognize a troubled heart,» the woman smiled gently. «Trust meno woman regrets keeping her child. Ive seen many like you in this place. Have faith.»
The vicar continued his prayers as the woman crossed herself. Olivia lingered a moment longer, then left with newfound resolve. «Whatever happens, happens,» she decided.
The day before, she and Emily had sat on a park bench after lectures, dreading her return home.
«What will you do, Liv? Keep the baby? Have you told James?» Emily pressed.
«Emily, stop fussinglet me think!» Olivia sighed. Her mind was a fog. She was only in her second year at universityhow could she face her parents, especially her strict mother, Margaret?
«Mum will kill me,» Olivia whispered. «James said he isnt ready to be a father and told me not to call again. After all these years together»
Emily cursed James betrayal.
«Your mum will rant, sure,» she said hesitantly, recalling Margarets temper. «But what do *you* want?»
«What choice do I have? Im barely scraping by, James abandoned me, and Mum will never agree!»
That evening, chaos erupted at home. Margarets voice was shrill.
«How could you be so careless? Youre throwing your future away! No childyoure finishing university!»
«Margaret, think what youre saying,» her father, Henry, interjected firmly.
«Henry, stay out of this! Wholl raise it? Me, at forty? I wont go back to nappiesI have a life!»
Olivia, trembling, slipped out unnoticed and fled to Emilys.
When she returned the next day, the house was silent. Her father glanced up from his newspaper.
«Youre back. Good.»
Her mother shot her a glare from the kitchen.
Standing tall, Olivia announced, «Im keeping the baby. Thats final.» The words left no room for argument.
Weeks passed. One afternoon in the park, James mother, Mrs. Carter, approached. Olivia braced herself.
«Liv, dear, may we talk?»
Emily excused herself as Mrs. Carter sat beside her.
«I know about the baby. Emily called merightly so. Please, keep it. Ill help you.»
Olivia blinked in shock.
«My sons a coward,» Mrs. Carter admitted. «But this is my grandchild. Ill support youfinancially, emotionally. My daughter cant have children, and James well, he may never give me another chance.»
Touched by her sincerity, Olivia agreed.
Little Thomas arrived at the start of Olivias third yeara rosy-cheeked bundle who charmed everyone. Grandad Henry adored him, and Mrs. Carter visited often, helping where she could.
Margaret, however, packed her bags before the birth. «I wont be a grandmother,» she spat, leaving for a colleague shed been secretly seeing for years. Henry was devastated but focused on supporting Olivia.
She balanced studies and motherhood with their help, graduating on time. By Thomas first birthday, life had settled.
«James enlisted,» Mrs. Carter shared later. «Perhaps the army will straighten him out.» When he chose to stay on, she sighed, «Maybe hes growing up, after all.»
Years passed. Thomas started school, and Olivia met Daniel at worka kind, steady man who adored Thomas.
«You must bring him round,» Henry insisted.
That evening, Daniel won him over instantly. They bonded over shared interests and alma maters.
«Hes a good man, Liv,» Henry said warmly. «Thomas already adores him.»
Soon, Thomas had a doting stepfather, and Henry, a son-in-law he cherished. Mrs. Carter, though initially worried, remained a beloved grandmother.
One evening in the park, holding Daniels hand and resting a hand on her rounded belly, Olivia smiled. That wise woman in the church had been rightno mother ever regretted her child.
Happiness had found her.
