Life's this way.

"I'm loving my life." She smiled at me.

"But, this is how it happened." She smiled again.
We sat on the park bench and
she told me
her story:

"We met in college.
Both with dreams and bright futures.
Scholarships and ability.
I was swept away.
He was charming, good-looking and very thoughtful.
He sent me flowers and bought me gifts.
Such a gentleman.
He seemed to good to be true.
He said he loved me.

I believed him.

Then, it happened...

Nice girls don't get pregnant.
But, I did.

Impossible.
The doctor said sometimes those things happen.
A little close is too close.

I called him, knowing he would be there for me.
He was.

He came right over.

He wondered what people would think. After all, he was a star quarterback,
and had plans for his future. He had a scholarship to maintain.
I didn't understand.
I was a cheerleader, and had plans for my future, too.
So what..
How could any of that matter.

We were going to have a baby.

He looked at me.
'Make it easy on us.
Get an abortion.'

All of a sudden, I didn't know him at all.
Abortion had not entered my mind.
No, I hadn't considered abortion.
Nor would I.

He left.
I cried.
He didn't come back.

I had my baby, and I never looked back.
Evidentally, he didn't either.
But, it's ok."

A little boy came bounding to his mommy, holding a pink rose.
"Look, Mommy...for you."
The beautiful rose bush stood against the playground fence.
How could he resist.

I smiled at the young mom as she sat her little boy on her lap.
His arms around her neck, he placed his chubby little hands on her face.
"I love you, Mommy."

Tears welled up as I watched the two.
"You did the right thing," I touched her hand, his little head.
"I know," she smiled.

I got up and continued on my walk.
The young mom had something the world could never take away.

Little hands might have never touched her face,
had she made it easy for 'us' as the young man had said.

But, she didn't.

Maybe it was unplanned, a surprise.

Yet,
No baby is a mistake.

I got up and walked away.
I understood,
very well.