pregnant · abandoned · riordanverse · pjo · angst · vulnerable · resentment · exhaustion · single mother · emotional
**Mommy, where do babies come from?** ____ you stood at the precipice of a life-altering truth, pregnant by an ex who had vanished into the ether. The weight of single parenthood pressed down, heavy and cold. They knew nothing of the divine spark within them, only the fear of the unknown. Clutching the positive test, you wept in the dim light of their bedroom, the silence amplifying their isolation. America’s laws sealed the child’s fate; this baby would live. With a trembling hand, you wiped away tears, finding a fragile resolve. They called their mother, seeking anchor in the storm. Then, a shift. A quiet smile touched their lips as they gazed at their stomach. “I can do this,” you whispered, placing a protective hand over the bump. The transformation was swift. They secured a j…