Unbroken

The next day, Nora calls off from work. She, Katelynn, and the babies pile into the car and rush to the clinic. The morning air feels cold and heavy, pressing in on Katelynn’s chest as they pull into the parking lot. Nora stays in the waiting room with the babies while Katelynn is called to the back.

As soon as the door closes behind her, the tears come. Her voice shakes as she tells the nurse everything, every detail spilling out at once. The nurse listens quietly and then begins the tests, swabbing, drawing blood, moving with practiced calm.

After a few minutes, the nurse returns to the room. “The rapid HIV test is negative,” she says. “And it does look like you’re pregnant. It’s very early, about two or three weeks.”

Katelynn cries harder. “My youngest is only six months.”

“I understand,” the nurse says gently. “After this pregnancy, you might want to think about birth control as soon as you have the baby.”

“You’re right,” Katelynn whispers, wiping her face.

“The other tests have to be sent out,” the nurse continues. “We should have the results in two or three days, and we’ll contact you.”

Katelynn swallows, her throat tight. “I’m only seventeen. I shouldn’t be going through this. I’m supposed to be in school and getting ready to graduate.”

The nurse looks at her with empathy, her expression soft. “Don’t give up, girl. You can still do all of that with your babies.”

Katelynn nods slowly, holding onto those words as if they are the only solid thing in the room.

The nurse leaves again and returns with brochures and paperwork covering every option. Adoption. Abortion. Keeping the baby. There is also a list of OB GYNs and local resources. Katelynn takes the stack of papers, along with what little dignity she has left, and walks back into the waiting room where her mother sits with the babies.

Nora looks up at her. “So?”

Tears stream down Katelynn’s face. “I’m pregnant. They have to send the other tests out, and I’ll know something in a few days.”

“Lord,” Nora says quietly.

She stands, gathering her grandchildren. Outside, the air feels thick and unmoving. Katelynn carries her one year old to the car, and they sit in silence, the weight of the moment pressing down on them.

After a while, Nora speaks. “So, what do you want to do?”

“I really don’t know,” Katelynn says. “But I think I should get rid of the baby. I already can’t work or go to school with just the two of them.”

Nora reaches over and lightly touches her shoulder. “Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to.”

She says it to comfort her daughter, but stress lines her face. Nora is exhausted from working long hours and still struggling to make ends meet. She is not ashamed of Katelynn, but she is tired of watching her daughter get played by a boy she knows does not love her or care for her.

Nora pulls into a McDonald’s parking lot. Inside, they sit together and eat lunch. Katelynn turns on a short movie on her phone, and for a brief moment, they all watch it together, the noise of the restaurant filling the space where their thoughts might have gone.

---

---

A few days later, the clinic called. The sound of the phone makes Katelynn’s heart drop into her stomach. She answers quietly. “Hello.”

“Ms. Hollins?” the nurse asks.

“Yes,” Katelynn replies, irritation edging her voice.

“So, you do not have herpes or syphilis,” the nurse says. “However, you do have gonorrhea and chlamydia. We’ll need you to come in so we can start treatment right away.”

Katelynn feels the sting behind her eyes but forces herself to stay steady. “Yes, ma’am.”

They hang up. Almost immediately, there is a loud knock at the door. Katelynn opens it, and Lamar stands there smiling, already stepping forward as if he belongs inside.

She pushes him back. “You gave me gonorrhea and chlamydia. You dirty bastard.”

He forces his way into the house and looks at her, suddenly concerned. “How do you know?”

“They just called me,” she says.

Lamar reaches for her, trying to pull her into a hug. She shoves him away hard, and he falls back onto the sofa.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “Are you sure you haven’t been with anyone else?”

“Seriously, Lamar?” Katelynn snaps. “You already know you’re the only one I’ve been with. I’m really over this.”

He shrugs. “We ain’t really together anyway. We can be done. You just pop out babies like a gumball machine, and you ain’t getting my money.”

“What money?” she yells. “You’re broke, irresponsible, and no good. I don’t want anything from you or your family. Get out of my house.”

Lamar stays seated, laughing.

Katelynn walks into the kitchen, her hands shaking, and grabs the biggest knife she can find. She points it at him. “Get out.”

Lamar stands and rushes toward her. He starts kissing her and ripping off her pants; forcing himself onto her. The struggle is fast and violent. During it, Katelynn stabs him twice in the side. Their two children sit in the playpen nearby, watching without understanding what they are seeing.

Lamar leaves.

Katelynn collapses onto the floor, staring at nothing, her body heavy and numb, the house eerily quiet around her.

----

----

Katelynn does not realize how much time has passed. She has been lying in the same position for hours before she finally comes back to herself. The clock reads almost 4:30, which means her mother will be on her way home soon. Panic jolts through her.

She forces herself up and feeds the children, her movements slow and stiff. She places one in the swing and the other in the playpen, then tidies the living room, picking up toys and straightening cushions as if routine might steady her. When she goes to take a bath, the steam fills the bathroom, but she cannot lower herself into the water. Her body aches too badly. Everything feels swollen and tender.

She wraps herself in a towel and lies down on the sofa instead, staring at the wall.

About an hour later, the front door opens. Nora walks in carrying dinner. Katelynn tries to act normal, tries to keep her voice steady, but Nora senses the shift immediately. They eat and watch tv, the sound filling the silence between them.

Nora finally turns to her. “Tell me what’s wrong. I’m here. It’s okay.”

Katelynn’s face crumples. “I’m so tired of disappointing you, Mama.”

“Girl, you are not disappointing me,” Nora says firmly.

Katelynn’s voice shakes. “Lamar came over and attacked me... Brutally. I can barely walk.”

Nora freezes. “We’re about to call the police.”

“No,” Katelynn says quickly. “I don’t want to have to tell my story to someone else, and I don’t want him to get in trouble. I just want him to leave me alone.”

“Then we can get a restraining order,” Nora says. “But we need to tell someone.”

“I don’t want him mad at me,” Katelynn whispers.

“Who cares?” Nora says, already standing. “Let’s go.”

“No!” Katelynn yells, the word tearing out of her.

The room falls silent, heavy with fear, exhaustion, and everything neither of them knows how to say next.