Chapter 3

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Ghost Marissa continues hanging around, the living characters seem oblivious to her presence as she continues to narrate.

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Marissa: Now you might be thinking "Why would being pregnant make Marissa want to commit suicide?" It's a valid question, I could have just had an abortion if I didn't want to be a mother. Suicide does seem a bit drastic, and in truth the pregnancy is not the only reason I would eventually choose to die. It does however inform the rest of the story, so pay attention. I decided to tell my mother that very night about my situation. Mom usually waited until after I got home to go to sleep, make sure I got home safely. She always said I could talk to her about anything, I supposse if I'd believed in God at the time I'm sure I would have been praying that this was true.

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Marissa: Can I talk to you for a minute mom?

Kelly: Ofcourse sweetheart. Is everything okay?

Marissa: Not exactly. I think I might be pregnant.

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Kelly knew that her daughter needed a hug right now, and gave her one.

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Marissa: Thank you mom.

Kelly: Are you sure?

Marissa; No, but I have been feeling nauseous lately. And me and Alex are, active.

Kelly: I suspected as much. Tomorrow we're going to take you to the doctor, and they can confirm one way or another. If you are pregnant, we can talk about your options.

Marissa: I have no idea what I'll do if I am pregnant. I'm obviously pro-choice, proud of it actually. But, I don't know if I could do that to my baby.

Kelly: I will support whatever you decide. I'll always be there for you, no matter what. I love you.

Marissa: I love you too mom.

Kelly: Now go to sleep, you have a long day ahead of you.

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Marissa: Now, I doubt you want to see me go thought these medical tests, so why don't we just cut to the chase, and hear what doctor Saulstein tells me and my mom. I couldn't understand the medical terms, so let's keep it basic.

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Marissa: Am I pregnant doctor?

Saulstein: Yes. There's also something else. I found evidence that you might be genetically likely to develop Amyotrophic Lateral Schlerosis, also known as Lou Gherig's disease.

Marissa; I thought that only affected older people.

Saulstein: Typically yes. But, based on this, you might very well develop this disease in your 50s, or slightly sooner. But new treatments are developed all the time, there might be a cure before it affects you.

Marissa: Or I could die a very painful death.

Saulstein: That is unfortunately a very real possibility.

Marissa: Could my baby inherit this disease?

Saulstein: That is also a very real possibility.

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Marissa: Now, you might think that I would automatically be asking about getting an abortion. Why give birth to a child that could inherit such a horrible disease? And I was only 18, could me and Alex even do it? Raise a child that could have some very special needs? But it was still my baby, and I was already starting to love her. One thing I was sure of, I had never been more scared in my life.