Chapter 6
Word got out from our department to the whole college.
Walking across campus, I could feel everyone staring at me from all directions.
Some people were curious, some looked at me with disdain, and some seemed to enjoy the drama.
When I was in the cafeteria getting food, the girl in front of me glanced at my belly, grabbed her friend, and moved to another window.
I picked a quiet corner, sat down with my tray, and ate alone.
During this time, Ryan tried to talk to me twice.
The first time was outside the library, where he stopped me. "Sophie, who is spreading all this stuff about you at school?"
"Don't you know?" I shot back.
"I don't know."
"Go ask Mary."
He paused, looking confused. "Mary? No way, she doesn't know anyone here."
"Suit yourself." I walked around him and kept going.
The second time, he was waiting for me at the cafeteria. I didn't bother going in, headed straight to another one to eat.
*****
Three weeks later, my academic advisor called me in for a talk.
It was the two of us in the office. Ethan Woods, my academic advisor, was in his early thirties, wore glasses, and spoke slowly and deliberately.
"Sophie, you've heard the rumors about you going around campus, right?" he asked.
"Yeah, I know," I replied.
"Is it true that you're pregnant?"
"Yes."
Ethan adjusted his glasses. "Have you thought about how this will affect your studies?"
"I can keep going to class."
"But with your situation, when you're further along, it'll be hard for you to keep up with classes. And now you have seen the reaction of your classmates, and the impact is not very good."
"The bad reaction is because people are spreading rumors."
"Either way, you're not in the best position to handle this level of stress and coursework right now. I strongly suggest you consider taking a leave of absence. Your enrollment will be held, and you can resume your studies when you're ready."
"A leave of absence?"
"Yeah, it's the best option for you."
I met Ethan's gaze.
Ethan looked genuinely concerned, his voice soft and reassuring.
But deep down, I knew what he meant. The school didn't want to take care of it.
"Can I take care of the leave myself?" I asked.
"Sure, I'll help you get the paperwork ready," Ethan said.
"Alright." I stood up.
"Sophie," Ethan called out.
"Yeah?"
"You're still young, Sophie. You've got a long road ahead of you."
I didn't say anything and pushed the door open, walking out.
*****
The leave of absence stuff got processed fast.
Everything was wrapped up in three days.
They'd hold my place for two years.
The day I was packing up my stuff, Lily and Emily were nowhere to be seen.
Only Chloe was there, helping me out.
She helped me pack my books into boxes, arranging them neatly one by one. "Sophie, are you coming back?"
"Yeah, I will," I replied.
"Then I'll save your locker for you."
"No, you can use it."
I sealed up the last box and looked around the dorm.
Three years here, four beds, four desks, and Lily's plant on the windowsill was still hanging in there.
I picked up the box and headed downstairs.
In the hallway, I ran into Grace. She was leaning against the wall, scrolling through her phone. When she saw me carrying the box, she glanced up. "Well, packing up, huh?"
I walked right past her without looking her way.
"Good luck, Sophie," she snickered behind me.
I stepped out of the dorm building.
The sunlight was so bright that I could barely keep my eyes open.
My dad's van was parked downstairs. He was standing by the car, and when he saw me, he came over to take the box. "Is this all?"
"Yeah, that's it," I replied.
He loaded the box into the van without asking why I had so little stuff.
I opened the door and got in.
As we drove out of the campus, I took one last look at the school in the rearview mirror.
The school's name was carved into a stone monument at the gate, and two rows of sycamore trees flanked the road.
I'd walked that road for three years.
The car turned a corner, and the school gate disappeared from the mirror.
I leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes.
After a while, my dad suddenly spoke up. "Don't let what those people said get to you."
"I'm not," I replied.
"Just focus on getting better at home. I'll handle everything else."
"Okay."
He went quiet again.
The car merged onto the highway, and the scenery outside blurred past.
I rested my hand on my belly.
Six weeks turned into nine.
There were two lives growing inside me.
In my previous life, those two lives were gone in that little clinic.
But I wouldn't let that happen.