The Aspiring Journalist Chapter 14

Aria returned home to Rosewood feeling defeated. She told her parents and Emily about what happend with Ezra. She didn't eat dinner that night and the next morning she felt a bit sick and tired, as she had not slept much the night before. She decided to write a letter to Ezra pleading with him to get help. She also contacted Sydney and Sydney said she would try to help.

At the Hollis campus, Ezra found a letter in his campus mailbox. It was the one from Aria. It read:

Dear Ezra,

I know you told me that I deserve better. You can't judge about what I deserve. I do love you and you deserve me. I want to help you so much. I still feel it was a some kind of miracle that we found each other. Please Ezra let us have a chance."

Love,

Aria

Ezra was heartbroken by the letter. But he continued not speaking to Aria.

The spring semester was coming to a close. Aria spent her time pouring herself into her grad school work. It was painful for her to see Ezra around campus. Then she noticed signs of something major and she wasn't entirely happy about it.

Aria found herself sitting in a speciality medical clinic in Rosewood. Days before she found out she was pregnant. She had not told anyone yet. She had various worries and she worried about being paralyzed and pregnant.

Dr. Olivia Hannon, was a obstetrician that was referred by Aria's general practitioner. Aria watched as the woman in her early 50s came into the exam room.

"Hello Miss Montgomery, I'm Dr. Hannon. It's good to meet you." The woman said, she bent down to shake Aria's hand.

Aria smiled and said, "Thank you. Please call me Aria."

Dr. Hannon took a seat and looked at Aria at eye level.

"Dr. Connors told me about your history and I've reviewed your files. I have had four previous patients who had pregnancies post spinal cord injury. Two were in very good health like you. They had no complications. But there is always a chance of possible issues like high blood pressure, kidney issues, and stress. Your body will also react differently in a few ways. You might feel more tired when it comes to pushing your wheelchair and transferring will be effected as you gain weight. Please also know Aria, that I will respect any wishes you have to terminate."

Aria was chilled by those words and said, "I do respect women's choices. But I want this baby. I know it won't be easy. I feel this baby is at least something good that came out of something that went wrong."

Dr. Hannon looked at Aria sympathetically and said, "Are you talking about the relationship the father?"

The brunette looked down sadly and responded, "I am. He doesn't know. Honestly, I'm not sure if I should tell him."

"I see. I could refer you to a crisis counselor."

Aria said, "No. This is something I have to figure out for myself"

A week later, Aria found herself outside Ezra's office. She knew he was in there. She was about to knock when Ezra came out.

Ezra said, "Oh hi Aria."

"Can I talk to you?"

"Yes. Please come in."

Ezra held the door open for her and she wheeled into his office. He noticed her skin was paler than usual.

He said, "Aria, first off I don't want to get back together. Like, I said before you deserve better."

"I'm pregnant Ezra."

Ezra was shocked and stunned.

Aria allowed him several minutes of silence to process the news a bit.

She said, "You have said that you don't want to be with me and that's fine. I do intend to keep this child. This child deserves a father, I want you to be involved."

Ezra said, "How far along are you?"

"Eight weeks. My parents and Emily know. If you don't want to be involved with the baby, that's fine. I have overcome a lot in my life and I can care for this baby even though I'm in a wheelchair."

"Are you sure you want to keep it? I mean what if your health turns out bad." Ezra said.

The brunette firmly said, "I'm under the care of an obstetrician who has worked with pregnant women with spinal cord injuries before."

Ezra responded, "What about your master's degree?"

"Oh, I intended to finish, even while I'm pregnant. I'm going to take summer classes. Don't be concerned with my education, be concerned with your baby."

"Aria, I'm not sure if I want to be involved with the baby. Maybe I won't be a good dad."

The brunette started to wheel out and she said, "If you want to talk again, let me know."

Ezra watched as she wheeled out. He knew that things just got more difficult in his life. Aria was carrying his child. A child that neither planned for. He and Aria were a bit reckless and never brought up birth control. He respected Aria's choice to carry the baby. He was now tasked with the choice to become a father or not. A part of him didn't want a baby. But the baby was innocent and at least deserved a life with two parents somehow in the picture.

A few weeks later. Ezra pulled into the clinic where Aria was going to for prenatal checkups. He met her in the parking lot.

Aria said to him, "Thank you for coming Ezra. I'm glad you are choosing to be a father to this baby. I want us to get along for the sake of this baby. I hope you will consider getting help for your past issues."

Ezra said, "I will get into counseling. I told my mother about your pregnancy and she wants to set up a trust fund for the baby. She would like to meet your parents. She understands that we won't be getting back together. She wants to connect with the baby's other family"

"I understand and I want our baby to be surrounded by love from both sides. Emily is going to be the godmother. I hope that's ok with you."

"That's fine. Emily has been one of your closest friends and she lives with you. I'm glad you aren't living alone during the pregnancy."

Aria nodded and then said, "Let's go in."

The two waited in the lobby before being called to an ultrasound room. They would be hearing the heartbeat and getting a glimpse of the baby through an ultrasound. Ezra lifted Aria onto the table for the ultrasound. She thanked him. Fifteen minutes later, they saw the outline image of the baby on the screen. Ezra started to cry. He wiped his tears. Aria saw it, but didn't say anything. She wished she could take Ezra into her arms, but she knew that he didn't want to be with her in a romantic sense. She was proud of the fact that he was choosing to be in the baby's life.