You pick up the phone,

And your heart skips a beat.

Hi Nathan,

It’s Jocelyn.

You abandoned your idea of not being friends,

Since your problems would continue regardless.

Can we meet at the park?

You head quietly towards the door,

Stopping to look at you’re passed out mom on the couch.

Mark was at a friend’s,

So you were free to go.

You listen to your feet,

Crunch in the new snow.

The social worker could be here any day,

Crunch.

They could take you away.

Crunch.

Mark would be adopted.

Crunch.

But not you.

Crunch.

You reach the park,

And brush the snow off your usual swing.

Today was the first day in a while,

That Jake hadn’t beaten you up.

At least not yet.

But there was still hope,

That you wouldn’t run into him,

And recreate your bruises,

Marks,

And wounds.

Hi,

She breathes,

Taking the swing beside you.

You can’t help but glance,

Down at her stomach.

It hasn’t gotten any bigger yet,

But it’s only been two weeks.

Still,

You stare,

Expecting it to suddenly bulge.

I’m sorry,

Her words shock you,

Surprise you,

Amaze you.

I’m sorry for the rumours being about you,

And Jake beating you up.

If I had any idea,

That it was you,

I would have stepped in.

But if it was someone else,

She wouldn’t have.

Just like she showed me,

When she thought it was somebody else.

Suddenly,

Tears,

Slowly,

Fall,

From her beautiful face.

I have no one,

She whispers,

And you know why she’s upset.
Jake left her,

Left his kid,

Left is new family.

Her parents didn’t even know yet,

But everyone else did.

Her friends ditched her,

Didn’t believe that it was Jake’s.

You tell her she has you,

And she looks up at you,

Smiling sadly.

I don’t even have a date to a dance.

She avoids your eyes,

And you know you have to ask her.

Really?

You’ll take me?

Hope fills her eyes,

And you nod.

You take her hand in yours,

And tell her things will be okay.

Suddenly,

You’re pulled backwards off the swing,

Painfully,

Hard.

What the hell do you think you’re doing?

Jake,

Upside down in your view,

Glares at you.

You jump to your feet,

Just,

In,

Time,

To get punched in the face.

Jake!

Screams Jocelyn.

Stop it!

Leave him alone!

You touch the new,

Tender spot on your face,

And anger swirls inside of you.

It was one thing to beat you up,

But it was something else to dump your pregnant girlfriend.

You call him an asshole,

Before,

You’re,

Fist,

Hits,

His,

Face.