SEPARATED: CONCLUSION TO UN-RELATED by Kimberly Schwartzmiller

you or the baby.”
    “I’m fine.”
    “No, you’re not. But you will be. You’re going to the doctor tomorrow if I have to drag you there kicking and screaming. And then, you’re going to call Kellan and tell him the truth.”
    “I can’t do that.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I can’t tell him!”
    “Wow, so all this time, you’ve been lying to me about how he’s always been there for you, and that he’d stand by you no matter what. That he loves you…”
    “No, I know he’d be there for me. I know he loves me and he would stand by me. But, I won’t put him through that.”
    “You’re killing him, you know that, right?” he said, playing the guilt card.
    “I know,” I whispered.
    “Then call him and tell him about the baby. Do you think he’ll love you any less, or not want the baby?”
    “NO! He loves me. He would do anything for me…” I said, realizing it was true.
    “That’s right, he would. He’ll love you, no matter what. Now, I’m taking you to see a doctor tomorrow. I know Kellan should be with you, but you can’t go on like this, and then when you come home, you’re going to call him and talk to him, so you have tonight to figure out how to tell him he’s going to be a dad.”
    “No, I’ll talk to him on Friday.”
    “You are the most stubborn girl I’ve ever met! Well, the fact is, you’re going to the doctor tomorrow and then you’re calling Kellan and telling him what happened. He needs to know and you need to tell him. I’m not much for ultimatums, Abby, but you need him right now! I’m not going to just stand by and watch my best friend die little by little when I know, without a doubt that he’ll be there for you…no matter what!”
    I looked up at him and thought about what he said for a minute. “You’re right. I need him. I can’t do this alone.”
    He sighed in relief, “Good, you’re finally making sense. I’ll take you to see a doctor in the morning, okay?”
    “I can go by myself. I’ll be fine.”
    “You haven’t kept much of anything down, I’m guessing for weeks or a month now. I’m taking you and I won’t hear another word about it.”
    I lay in bed that night trying to come up with a plan, and it finally hit me. Tyler was right, Kellan would be there for me, and he’d help me even if he didn’t know the whole truth. The answer was staring me in the face, it was there all along. I shook my snow globe and watched the angel dance. It was time to go home…to Kellan.

A LONG JOURNEY
     
    I woke up very early the next morning and quickly wrote a note to Tyler:
     
    Dear Tyler,
    Thank you for everything. You said you’d always be there for me and you were    right! I have to go, now. I’ll be fine. I know what I need to do.  I can’t run from this, I have to face it head on. That’s what I’m going to do! Tell Stephanie thank you and that I’m sorry for intruding in your lives for so long. I’ll call you next week, when I’m settled.
    Love, Abby
     
    I packed my bag, cleaned up my room and re-made the bed with clean sheets. I had already called a cab and the driver was picking me up down the street. I quietly closed the door behind me and hauled my meager belongings to the end of the block. One would expect it to be rainy in Washington, but it was also very cold. I shivered as I reached the end of the block, hoping the driver would be there shortly.
    He didn’t disappoint me. I paid him to take me to the bus station and I bought a bus ticket to Connecticut. It was going to take me three days to get there by bus, but I figured I’d make it just in time to stop Kellan from coming after me. I knew that I had about 30 missed calls and messages, but I just needed time to think and come to terms with my plan. I shut my phone off, and instead, focused on the road ahead.
     
    “Kellan, I um, I don’t know how to tell you this, but she’s gone!” Tyler said when he got up and saw Abby’s note.
    “What do you mean, she’s gone?”
    “I