As I walked into the clinic, I felt as if everyone in there was staring at me. It was cold, and I could hear so many conversations at once, so many people sitting down waiting to be called in. Wondering eyes with looks of desperation, I tried to find an answer in every corner of the room. As I am waiting in line to talk to the skinny white lady in the front desk, my hands start sweating and my feet are shaking. My future lies ahead on a small thin thread of hope, a plus or minus test. Taking this test was not just any test. It was a pregnancy test which could change an 18 year olds life completely.
“Marlene Valdez” a short, dark lady said. My heart started pounding harder and faster. I stood up and walked towards her, “Hi”, she said, “How are you doing today?” I replied that I was doing well and we got right to the point. She made me pee in a cup and leave it in a little window. When I walked out, I heard her say, “You can take a seat on a chair on your right we will call you in a moment.” I felt as if I was there for hours before I finally got called. This time the nurse told me that the doctor was going to give me my results and have a chat with me. She then took me in to a small room full of pregnancy posters and a bed. I sat in there wondering when someone was going to knock on the door. It started to seem as if they had forgotten about me. A while later a super short, dark, Asian looking lady with short hair said with an accent, “Hi my name is Dr.C. I have your test came out positive. Congratulations! You are about two months pregnant.” At that moment I felt all the emotions that are possible. I was so happy, but at the same time I felt scared and worried. What was I going to tell my mom? As I walked out of the clinic full of emotions, information and appointments, I felt like a complete different person. It was no just me anymore, U had another responsibility.
When I told my boyfriend and his parents, they were very happy for us. They have always been supportive and nice. They were excited but worried about the same thing I was, my mom! She was a complete different story. It was already been six months that I had not seen or talked to her. We both got into a big argument and I left the house. Since then I had been living with my boyfriend, the person my mom just thought was not right for me. He was supportive and told me he had my back for anything and we were always going to be together. We had been together for two years and having a baby was what we both wanted.
I was now five months pregnant and my mother still did not know about my pregnancy. My church was going to hold a retreat just for teens here in Oxnard and my friends and I decided to attend. It was going to be in a hotel, for a weekend starting of Friday night. At this experience, I decided to open up to the priest, a tall very young man who I have known for years. As I sat next to him, worried that I was going to lecture me, telling me, I was very young and it was wrong that I was not married, I just didn’t know what to expect. In minutes, I told him what was on my mind and how I needed to tell him that my mom did not know of pregnancy. I also told him I haven’t talked or seen her in a very long time, and that I was not emotionally ready to see her face to face. He gave me advice to right her a letter coming from my heart. After writing the letter with tear marks on it in, I was ready to send it in an envelope. The priest told me, “don’t worry mija, I will send it to your mom with someone”. I gave it to him, thanked him for his advice and help, and just wanted to see what would happen.
A week later after nervously waiting for a response from my mom, the phone began to ring. As I hesitate to the phone, I knew it wasn’t just any normal phone call. The feeling of it being my mother came over me as I approach to answer, I knew then I would have to answer the phone.”Hello” was my answer with a shaky voice, is a crying response then broke the silence of a mysterious phone call. It was my mother who had called telling me that she had received my letter. I then insisted in talking to her in person, and she agreed. As the conversation went on, we both came to an agreement that it was time for me to come home. But I was not yet ready to give up; my only condition was to bring back my boyfriend with me, the love of my life. After a long talk with my mother, she accepted him.
As my due date came closer, my mom started to change a lot with me. She became more supportive to the point where she held a surprise baby shower for me. From that day on I realized that my mom was as excided for my little baby to come into this world as much as my boyfriend and I were. This thought made me happy. I felt supported and loved by many friends and family, something I had not felt in a long time. I was now ready to start my new life as a mom myself.
After going through so much and finding out that I was pregnant, as easy as it sounds having to deal with the consequences it was a memorable event in my life. The decisions that were made helped me become responsible and independent. As a result my pregnancy is something I will never regret, not only as a life learning experience but also because it made me a better person. It also got me closer to my mom who at first was disappointed, but now that Genesis is born she has turned into a completely different person. As we all watch Genesis grow, she is filled with happiness and love which puts a smile in our faces every day.
