Barbra sat on her bed nearly a week later and made a decision.
She was going to have this baby.
The last week had been a complete blur for her. Still taking her medication, she slept most of the time and often sat alone thinking over everything that had happened. She was thankful her parents had been so supportive, but had been treating her as if she was made of glass for the last couple of days. Knowing her entire life had changed the second that psycho jumped up from the canoe, her entire life…as normal as it seemed would never be the same again. She knew she could never forget what happened. It was bad enough for the others, most of all Todd, who she read had been involved in the original accident causing Cropsy to come back. Part of her hated Todd for this. Why had he and those other kids been so stupid. How couldn't anyone had known. Why did that hospital still let him out after what happened. Then she knew she was blaming the wrong people. She was really mad at this bastard who had done this.
Her and her friends hadn't done anything to him, all he was in their minds was some creepy campfire story to tell while camping out in the woods. Most of them weren't even old enough to attend camp when the accident first happened.
Why them?
She guessed she would never know.
She knew things were different for her though, she had been there when it happened. She had nearly died, and somehow by some blind luck survived. She didn't know if it was luck, or just plain punishment. But she knew she couldn't live this way the rest of her life. Her parents were right. This was her second chance.
She knew her parents just wanted what was best for her, and she understood after everything that had happened she was in no position to take care of a baby. She was just a teenager still, and somehow she knew it would never work. Somehow this pregnancy came through such terrible and horrible events. She really didn't know what her reaction would be if things had been different.
She wished things had been that way. The worst of her problems being not able to tell her parents the truth. Still her thoughts drifted to Woodstock. What would he think about the baby? Would he be angry? Ashamed? Would he stand by her side after they told their parents. Would he have tried to pay for an abortion or simply brush it off.
Or would he be shocked and scared like her.
She didn't know.
What if he had survived. Badly hurt, but still survived. Would his thoughts have been different about the pregnancy then?
She didn't know why she was going through this in her mind. None of that really mattered…Woodstock was still dead, and nothing would bring him back.
She had finally made her decision.
She would go through the pregnancy, and then offer Woodstock's parents if they wanted to adopt their grandchild. She would explain how Woodstock and her had slept together, being foolish and young and how it had just happened. She would explain she was in no state to take care of a child and wanted it to live a normal happy life, not really knowing like her parents had said, the back story of how it came to be. She hoped they wouldn't be angry and be thankful that she came to them. Maybe this would help them through the grief of their only child.
She had heard her mother talk once before, that after Woodstock's mother had him she was no longer able to have children. That's why his parents treated him so special.
After that?
She would take up her parent's offer about moving away. She would be home schooled and finish her senior year away from all the madness. She knew she really couldn't face everyone after everything that happened. Somehow senior year didn't seem as exciting and as fun after everything. Prom, graduation, parties, the whole nine yards seemed now stupid and wasteful. Anyways, she was going to be pregnant for most of it and didn't want everyone talking behind her back.
Once the baby was born she would be finished for good. Slowly picking up the pieces of her life somewhere else. Somewhere that she could start over fresh.
As for the baby, she didn't know.
She just wanted it to have a normal life.
Taking out the large shoebox filled with letters from her friends, mostly from everyone who had returned from camp. Sorting through them, she took out her notepad and began writing. Everyone deserved to at least know what she was doing. How she felt about things, and how she wouldn't be around anymore. Writing to everyone, she felt her heartache. These were all her friends, everyone who had been connected from camp. Now she was leaving all of that behind.
Finishing the letters, she stuffed them back in the box and decided to wait until mailing them out.
That evening she explained to her parents what she was going to do. At first they were against her speaking with Woodstock's parents. But she told them if things had been the other way around, wouldn't they have wanted the last real living piece of her? Her parents have worried glances at each other before nodding.
The next day, after some phone calls were made Woodstock's parents drove back and decided to see her. They knew she was the only survivor from the raft. She had seen their only son get killed. There were so many unanswered questions…
Sitting together, Barbra stared across at them from their living room. Her parents by her side. She felt sick to her stomach and nervous. She saw the heartbreak behind both of Woodstock's parent's eyes. Finally after taking a deep breath, she explained she was pregnant. After a few minutes of silence, Woodstock's mother cleared her throat, on the verge of tears.
"Your what?"
Barbra took a deep breath again and glanced at her parents.
"I just found out…you see back at camp Woodstock and me…"
"Is he the father?"
Barbra slowly nodded.
Woodstock's father closed his eyes and sighed.
Barbra felt as if she was going to cry, but tried to get her breathing under control before explaining her offer. By the time she finished, she felt dizzy. Woodstock's parents were crying.
"Your really pregnant?"
Barbra nodded before Woodstock's mother began sobbing, she clutched onto her husband's arm.
"Oh our baby boy…why?!"
She kept crying before looking over, her eyes raw.
"Of course we want our grandchild…oh Barbra honey…"
Before Barbra could do anything, Woodstock's mother had gotten up and was now hugging her. Crying onto her shoulder, she kept telling her if was a sign from God. Barbra just sat back, completely numb before Woodstock's mother began asking questions.
Barbra meanwhile sat back, dazed and uncertain.
