The Stories We Cannot Tell by Leslie A. Rasmussen

Author:Leslie A. Rasmussen [Rasmussen, Leslie A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: TouchPoint Press

When Katie’s alarm on her phone went off, she felt as if she were trudging through sludge as she shoved the covers aside and reached over to turn it off. She went into the bathroom to pee for the tenth time since she went to sleep the previous night. Her bladder and her daughter were always fighting over who would wake her up the most.

Katie normally applied bronzer and blush to brighten up her fair complexion, but even if she put on all the makeup from the MAC counter in the mall, it wouldn’t take away how pasty she looked.

Today would be her first day back at work after her time off. She wasn’t ready, but if she decided to keep the baby, she needed this job to support them.

Katie was the first to arrive at the office. After filling up her thirty-two-ounce sports bottle with water, she laid her head down on her desk. I’m already exhausted, how am I going to get through this whole day?

“Good morning, Katie,” Dr. Marley said, startling her. “It’s good to have you back.”

“Thank you.” Katie sank with relief.

“Did the time off help you come to a decision?”

“No, but I’m getting there.”

“Did you go to the support group I told you about?”

“I did.”

“Good, I hope it helped.” Even though Katie wasn’t sure yet, she appreciated that Dr. Marley cared. “I know you’ll figure this out,” Dr. Marley said and turned, bumping into Sandra, who’d come up behind her.

Sandra scooted her desk chair next to Katie and took a handful of M&Ms out of the jar on Katie’s desk. “When you didn’t return my calls yesterday, I got worried. If you didn’t come in today, I was going to break your apartment door down. I wasn’t even going to knock first.”

Katie hugged Sandra. “I didn’t mean to ignore you; I just didn’t feel like talking yesterday.”

Sandra drummed her fingers on the desk. “I’ve been thinking about you a lot.” She leaned across the desk as if she had a secret. “Catholic or not, I’d end the pregnancy if I was in your shoes. I couldn’t deal with a baby by myself, especially one that I knew might have problems.”

Katie didn’t say anything right away; she wanted to get her words right.

“I think it’s easy for you to say that. You aren’t religious or dealing with it.”

“I’m sorry, I should’ve kept my big mouth closed.”

“I know I asked you once, but I realized that I needed to make my own decision without anyone’s input, even my best friend’s.”

“You’re right, I overstepped.” Sandra rolled her chair back over to her desk.

“It’s okay, I know you only want to be helpful.” Katie picked up a pen and chewed the end of it. “Does everyone here know what’s going on?”

“I don’t think so,” Sandra said. “They think you took time off because you weren’t feeling well.”

Sandra and Katie stood when they saw Dr. Marley, accompanied by a patient, coming toward them. The woman was beaming from ear to

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