The following months were a roller coaster. My parents came to visit a lot, and Ashley came when she could. But it wasn't the same as being at home. By the time I hit the five month mark, a month after moving in with Mimsy, Ben stopped calling and I stopped trying to get in touch with him. I didn't fit in well around school since not many other girls couldn't go out shopping after school because they had to get an ultrasound done or they had to go to Lamaze classes. It didn't really matter though since the plan was that I would be leaving at the end of the year after I had the baby and found him/ her an adoptive family. After I lost Ben, beyond my family, I had no ties to home anymore. Lauren's parents prohibited her from talking to me, and Madison drifted away from me. I never did get the courage to call Ricky. I wanted after I hit my third trimester and the due date became closer and closer. But after a certain point, I guess, there's no turning back. And after I hit seven months, three months after leaving home, it seemed useless to call. He had probably forgotten all about me and his baby.

She shifted uncomfortable in her bed. It was spring break, and it could have never come at a more opportune time. After hitting eight months, it became harder and harder for her to move throughout the school without having the irrational fear that anyone who bumped into her would force her into premature labor. The doctor had suggested bed rest after she hit eight and a half months, but what the doctor didn't understand was that she was a high school student, not some adult who could drop everything for maternity leave. There was no maternity leave for a fifteen year old girl nearly nine month pregnant. But now that it was spring break, she was able to lie in bed all day waiting for her stomach to finally pop. Mimsy weight on her hand and foot. After a few months, she came around and learned to accept what she could not change. But no matter how hard Mimsy tried to make her granddaughter comfortable, she couldn't stop the natural effects of pregnancy on her body which included cramps, night sweats, and the constant need to go from hot to cold.

"Amy, you need to stop fidgeting so much. You'll wear yourself out."

"I can't." She sighed. "My back hurts really badly, and the baby is kicking like crazy."

"This has been going on all day. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I think. I just can't seem to… get comfortable." She sighed. "And now I have to pee."

Extending a hand, Mimsy helped her granddaughter out of bed and onto the floor. Her stomach was huge, as to be expected, and poke out of the bottom of her "Ulysses S. Grant High School' t-shirt. She waddled her way towards the bathroom. Mimsy waited in the bedroom fixing the sheets. But as soon as the door latched, she heard a loud scream.

"Amy! What's wrong?" She yelled and hurried to the bathroom.

Standing there in the middle of the bathroom was her granddaughter. Her pants were wet, and a puddle was forming on the ground.

"I think my water broke." She cried looking at her in horror.

"Let's get you to the hospital." Mimsy said taking her hand and leading her down the stairs. Grabbing her bag, she helped her to the car and into the passenger seat. After safely pulling out of the driveway, she handed Amy her phone and told her to call her mother. She dialed the number and impatiently waited for someone to pick up.

"Hello?" Ashley's unenthusiastic voice came.

"I need to talk to mom."

"Who got your panties in a bunch?"

"Please, Ashley, let me talk to mom."

"Fine." She sighed. There were some muffled sounds before her mom's voice came onto the phone.

"Hey, Amy."

"Mom, I think my water broke."

"What!"

--

She anxiously tapped her feet against the bottom of the bed. Mimsy was pacing in circles talking in hushed tones to Anne. Anne, George, and Ashley were on their way up. The door opened, and the doctor walked in. Mimsy told Anne she'd call her back when she heard more and hung up.

"So?" Amy asked impatiently.

"You're in labor." She nodded looking at the fetal monitor. "I'm going to check your progress."

Nodding, Amy allowed her to move her legs and move the blanket. Mimsy moved to the head of the bed and ran her hand over Amy's brown hair. In a second, the doctor stood back up and took off her gloves. "You're five centimeters already?"

"How long will it be then?" She asked.

"A few hours." The doctor told them. "I'll be back to check on you soon." With that, she walked out.

"I'm going to call your mother." Mimsy said kissing her forehead.

--

"Why'd I do this?" Amy cried as another contraction passed. Her forehead dripped with sweat. Tears rolled off her cheeks and soaked into the thin material of her hospital gown. Mimsy was doing the best she could, but she didn't know how to help. "I'm fifteen, for Christ sake."

"It's okay. Sh." Mimsy soothed.

The door flew open, and her mother appeared first. "Amy! Oh my god, are you okay?"

"Mom, it hurts so badly." She cried. He father and sister followed.

"Okay, okay what can I do?" She asked the doctor who was writing on her chart.

"Nothing, she's ten centimeters dilated. We're going to prepare for pushing, right now." She went to go find some nurses to help. She returned in a second with two nurses in tow.

"That's my cue." Mimsy said and kissed her granddaughter's forehead. "Good luck."

"Thank you."

"Ashley, George lets give Amy and Anne some time alone." Mimsy said. They both nodded.

"Good luck, Amy." Ashley said and walked out. George kissed her cheek and walked out with Mimsy. Anne took a seat by her head as Amy looked at her with tear-filled eyes.

"I'm not ready, Mom. It's going to hurt."

"It will, but I'll be right here with you."

--

Her baby had been born. A baby girl. Six pound, twelve ounces. Now, she was tired. Her mother had gone to get some food with her father, sister, and grandmother.

"Excuse me?" She said to a nurse in the room.

"Yes?"

"Can I see my baby?"

The nurse sighed. "You're putting her up for adoption, right?"

"I think so."

"Then we recommend not until a social worker gets her."

"I want to see my baby." She said with a little more force.

"It's your choice." She sighed. "I'll get her."

Amy waited in silence until the nurse returned wheeling a bassinet and brought her to the bed then left. Amy looked down at her. She was sleeping with an angelic glow. Tears welled in her eyes. She was so beautiful. Carefully, she sat up and lifted the baby into her arms. She instantly grabbed a fistful of her gown in her tiny hand. Her eyes opened slowly revealing her big brown eyes. "Hey there, Baby."

That's when I knew I couldn't do it. I couldn't put her in the system. She was my baby girl.