*Author's Note - After reading this tale, don't turn my comments section into some political debate. This isn't meant to be a story that takes sides on a hot button issue. It's meant to showcase the emotions a girl goes through when something very serious happens to her. This isn't a tale that's meant to start a sociological debate. It's meant to be a tale about a girl and the emotions she experiences when something tragic occurs. Interpret the rest as you will.

-Maya Hart had just came back from a summer long vacation touring the greatest art museums in Europe. It was all going to be paid for through a scholarship she had acquired. She was very hesitant about doing it but Riley helped her realize it was an opportunity she couldn't pass up. It was hard for both of them to part ways since they had been together every single day since they first met. Maya tried messaging Riley but her phone had problems working overseas, calling overseas on a landline was very expensive, and her access to the internet was limited. When she finally did get back, she was surprised to not see Riley waiting for her at the airport. So Maya wasted no time and made her way up her favorite ladder and climbed through her favorite bay window and into her favorite bedroom. There Maya saw Riley laying on her bed all curled up.

Maya: Hey Sunshine. I missed you so much. I bought you one of those hats French people wear even though I found out French people don't really wear them.

-Riley didn't move. Maya moved towards Riley slowly.

Maya: Riles... what's wrong?

-Maya got near Riley's face and saw tears were flowing out of Riley's eyes.

Maya: Riley. What is... Look. I'm so sorry I was gone for so long. But you said it be okay if I went.

Riley: It's not what you did Maya. It's what I did. I did something awful over the summer. Extremely awful.

Maya: What happened Riley. Talk to me.

Riley: I can't. It's...

-Maya held up the back of her hand and spoke with confidence.

Maya: You sit up and tell me everything that happened. Ring Power!

-Riley slowly sat up as Maya sat right next to her.

Riley: Maya, I... about a month after you left I was touring NYU. You know, to see if it be a good college for me. And I wound up at a party at a dorm and stuck around. I thought it be no big deal. We snuck into a college dorm once and nothing happened. But I started drinking this stuff and didn't know what it was, and I started talking to a guy who seemed nice. And he took me into a room and we...

Maya: Oh my God. Riley, did you...

-Tears begin to trickle out of Riley's eyes as she tried to close them.

Riley: Yes. We had sex. We had sex Maya. I had sex with a guy I had just met. I didn't even know his name. He left as soon as it was done and I... I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel about it.

-Maya grabbed both of Riley's hands with her own and spoke.

Maya: I am so sorry Riley. I wish I had been there to maybe help protect you. Did... you tell your parents what happened?

Riley: I was going to. I was looking for the right moment to talk to them about it. But then I... I found out something and... oh God... I... Maya, I was pregnant.

Maya: What!? You're... Wait. Was pregnant? You mean...

-Riley titled her head down as she continued to have many tears come out of her.

Riley: Yes. I... I had an abortion Maya. I had a baby growing inside me and I aborted it.

-Riley began to sob as Maya then embraced Riley with her arms.

Maya: It's going to be okay Riley. It's going to be okay. I've got you.

Riley: But, I... Oh God. What have I done? What kind of person am I?

Maya: Riley, you were taken advantage of and forced to be pregnant. No one would be mad at you for...

Riley: It's not how I got pregnant that I hate. It's how I chose to deal with it I hate. I mean... I didn't want to be pregnant. If I was to ever be a mom one day, I would want a child to be born into a world with two parents ready to love and care for it. Just like I had. I would never want a child to be born to a girl on her own who wasn't ready to be a mom, and will never know who their other parent was.

Maya: I get it Riley. You were thinking about creating the best life you could offer for a child.

Riley: I thought that was it. But really... I just wanted the problem to go away as soon as possible. I mean I could always just have had the child and given them up for adoption. But no. I didn't want people staring at my big stomach and calling me all kinds of rude words. My life would be ruined even though I did nothing wrong. I wanted to save my reputation so that I could be the best person I could be in the world. But instead I made myself the worst person in the world.

Maya: Riley, how can you say that? You're the most wonderful person I know. How can you think of yourself...

Riley: I killed a human life growing inside me Maya! It doesn't matter if it was unborn. The clinic I snuck over to tried to help me feel not bad about it. Talked about the importance of planned parenthood but... what kind of parent am I gonna be if I'm the kind of woman who kills a child!? I'll never be a good mother now Maya. Never ever...

-Maya then put her hands on the sides of Riley's face and looked right at her.

Maya: You listen to me Riley Matthews. You are the greatest person in the world I know. And I want you to remember that you are an amazing woman. One of the best women I know. And one day you will become a mother. And you are going to sprinkle that child's life with goodness just like how you did with me.

Riley: But how can you be so sure I will?

Maya: Because I will be by your side every step of the way for the rest of your life, and make sure you do. Because no matter what you do, I will always love you. Just like how you will always love me and any more children that come into our lives as we grow old together.

-Riley then rested her head on Maya's shoulders. Tears were still coming out of Riley's eyes but she was finally starting to make a small smile.

Riley: Thank you Peaches. For loving me no matter what I've done.

Maya: It's what I know you'd for me. I love you Riley.

Riley: I love you too Maya.

THE END