I stare at the little test in front of me. This thing is so tiny in the palms of my hands and yet it is going to determine my whole future.

I flip it over to reveal the screen and take a deep breath before looking at the results.

I stand and hold the test in my hands for a moment before dropping it into the trash box next to the toilet.

"Well?" Leigh asks after I exit the stall and wash my hands. "What did it say?"

I dry my hands with a paper towel and stare at her. I can't speak. My brain has jumbled up the words I used to know and has made it impossible to say them. I feel as if I might throw up simply by opening my mouth.

"Come on. Tell me. I can't tell if you are happy or not. You kind of look pale." She says, waiting for the results.

I try to walk past Leigh, not being able to speak right now. She grabs my arm and holds me until I look back at her. "You are, aren't you?"

I nod slowly. "I think so."

"What do you mean you think so?" She asks.

"Well, I'll have to go to the doctors to be sure. But the test said positive." A tiny tear rolls down my cheek.

"You don't think you're ready for a baby, do you?" She asks, examining the look on my face.

I shrug. "It's not that." I admit. "I just feel like my life is starting to come back together and I'm finally happy with where I am in my life and then this happens."

Leigh sighs. "Maybe its a sign."

"A sign that I'm too young to be having unprotected sex? I'd agree." I scoff. I have a ton of mixed emotions about this news.

"No, like a sign from up above. From your mom."

"My mom wouldn't do this to me. She knows I can barely handle the kids I have now. How can she expect me to handle another one?"

"Avery!" Leigh laughs. "I'm not sure what you're talking about. You sound like a mad woman. Maybe it's the nerves or maybe it's hormones but you are going to love this baby and take care of it with the same strength that allows you to take care of the other four children who have been under your care for the last year and a half."

"That's different, Leigh."

"How?" She asks, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Those kids aren't mine. They're my siblings."

"So? You take care of them, you feed them, you bathe them, you love them. What's the difference?" She asks again. "It's a trick question. There is none."

I shrug.

"Listen, I can't tell you how to feel about this baby or what to do about it, but I can tell you that you can do it. And we will all be here to help you along every step of the way, just like we are with the kids now."

I nod. "Okay." I continue nodding. She's right. "I can do this."

"Now you've got to go tell Tyler." She reminds me.

"Oh god. Not now."

"You're right. Now now because we spent the whole hour talking. We need to get back to the courthouse. We can deal with this again after."

Leigh and I join everyone back in the courtroom as the hearing begins again.

"Alright, welcome back everyone. Let's get started." The judges says. She turns to my father and his lawyer. "Mr. Kash, you've heard the charges against you. How do you plead?" The judge asks after the opening statements are officially completed by both sides.

The courtroom silenced itself. Everyone is waiting to hear what the killer has to say for himself. He would be dumb to deny he did it. There is so much evidence against him. He needs to just accept that he has been caught so we can all move on with our lives, including him.

My father stands. He clears his throat and gives his answer. "Not guilty, your honor." He says firmly.

I stand out of my seat. Numerous heads turn in my direction. I turn away and walk down the aisle, smacking my hand on the door and exiting the room minutes before the judge dismisses the courtroom for the day.

Authors note: thoughts?

Question: What are your resolutions for the new year?