Second Place

"What's what you said, isn't it?" Monica screamed.

Mascara was running down her cheeks. Donovan tried to talk softly to keep Rachel from looking. She was inconsolable though, pulling away from his touch so as to protect her pregnant stomach and her two children from contact. Her young daughter watched as Donovan turned Monica around, softly talking in her ear.

"Why are you?"

"You said you loved me."

"I didn't say that. Well, I mean, I was--" he looked at the kids. "This is inappropriate, don't you think?"

"It wasn't inappropriate when you were sleeping with your client, was it, Mr. Ray? Then I was just a misguided little girl you could cum in and leave. Well, guess what? She's yours!"

"I'll give you whatever money you need but--"

"Money? You think this is about money?" Monica's words were all slurring together.

"Monica, you're panicking," he said softly.

Monica could feel the sands of time running through her fingers. Another failure. Another baby by someone that didn't care. Another person that used her like a glory hole. Another baby that was gonna suffer because of it. Time was running and twirling and standing still. She looked at her kids. Her son was crying, and her daughter was hugging him. She didn't even feel their little hands leave hers. Little hands. That's what they scream at the abortion clinic. They look with those piercing eyes. Little eyes that opened and closed after 8 weeks. Her daughter had fingernails.

"No! Let me go!" Monica screamed.

A woman had appeared in teh doorway. She was frail, like Monica, with long blonde hair and a worried expression. Monica smiled at her.

"Did he tell you who I am? Do you know anything about me?" she laughed though tears were streaming down her face. "Did he tell you about Sophie?"

The woman's worried expression became pained. She touched her frail stomach, then looked as a blonde little boy raced past her with his sister.

"He broke you to. Unfortunately for you, you're stuck. That ring is a noose."

Donovan noticed his wife and tried to do damage control. He ran to her but she slammed the door and locked it. Then he went after Monica.

"That won't help you?"

"I don't need help, doc. Anyone that says they'll save you is a liar, right?"

"Are you drunk? Are you drunk while you're carrying our child?"

"She's only yours if she's in danger," Monica giggled. "Keith was just like you. A dad because he had to be. There was no love. I'm unlovable and I know that now, but my kids aren't something you can fuck over."

"I'm not fucking her over but I need time to figure things out."

"Fuck you. It's been five months. Hell, seven since you started screwing me. You know what you were doing. You knew she'd exist. But don't worry. My kids will never need to know anyone that treats them like you treated me. And that poor woman. You can see she loves you."

"Shut up, Monica."

"You're gonna hit me?" Monica laughed. "Outside in broad daylight in front of my kids?"

"Please, just go. Do you need money for the bus?"

"Fuck you."

Monica picked up her son and grabbed her daughter's hand and walked away from the porch with her head held high despite the tears running down her cheeks. Halfway to the bus stop, her daughter spoke up.

"It's gonna be okay, Mommy. Sophie will have us."

"I know sweetheart."

"Aren't we enough?"

Monica smiled at her daughter and kissed her forehead. "Of course we are, darling."