He took it, bit off a huge chunk, and winced at the heat, grinning at me like a fool.

The next day, I hid the test results.

The day after that, I came home from the hospital and found Sean holding a piece of paper, his face flushed with excitement.

"Elaine, you're pregnant! How could you keep this from me? We're finally going to have a baby!"

"And today's a double celebration. I finally landed an investor. Our whole future just opened up!"

He swept me into his arms and spun me around until I was dizzy, my heart hammering against my ribs.

I didn't know how to tell him. I couldn't keep this baby, because it would kill me.

I knew him. The moment he found out, he would abandon everything and pour every last dollar into saving me.

But how could I let him? He'd clawed his way out of nowhere, fought tooth and nail to build something, all so he could give me a home.

His dream. His future. Everything he had was riding on that plan.

I didn't want to die. But I couldn't watch everything he'd worked for collapse, either. So I ended the pregnancy, and then I drove him away.