The Hour of Dreams Read Online Free Page B

“What do you mean?”
    “Well, Jackson is wrong, and you shouldn’t let his reaction determine what you’re going to do.”
    She shook her head. “Sophie. It’s really not about him. I don’t want a baby either. My mom and dad will flip if they find out. And I never pictured myself playing house. But somewhere inside, I just wanted Jackson to care. To show support, you know? Not act like a selfish jerk.”
    “But you said yourself, you can’t imagine—”
    “What I meant was that I can’t take care of a baby. My family already has enough issues. It would only make things worse for everyone, including the baby. Can you imagine me carrying it around the bookstore? Really, Sophie? And where would we live?”
    There was so much I wanted to say to reassure her, but I was the last person to know about assurances. Besides, we would have gone back and forth about them. Dawn was more stubborn than me, so I needed to pull out some real artillery.
    “Dawn. Remember when I got stabbed with that needle last year?”
    “Yeah?” Her eyes narrowed in confusion.
    “Well, I never told you that the needle was carrying HIV.”
    She lifted her head a few inches off the pillow. “What?”
    “I became infected.”
    “Sophie. You never said anything,” she whispered.
    “I know. It was because Wes’ lab conducted an experimental cure on me. It was confidential, and it worked, but—”
    “It worked?” She pressed, now sitting up completely.
    “It worked, but now I’m having side effects from the medicine.”
    Our eyes locked, and hers were full of shock and concern. Suddenly, Dawn’s focus was directed at something else besides her dilemma, and that’s when I realized that she might not need to know the whole secret to understand.
    “What kind of side effects?”
    “So far, just nosebleeds.”
    Her mouth fell open. “Why didn't you say anything all this time?”
    I shrugged. “I guess for the same reason you didn’t.”
    “Wow. Some friendship, huh?” I chuckled. “So why tell me now?”
    “Because, Dawn. I want you to see what’s important. Don’t you get it? I could die.”
    “Don’t say that, Sophie.”
    “No, I mean it. It’s the truth. And it could be soon.”
    She slid herself away from me, like she was afraid. “Stop saying that.”
    “Dawn. I’m not trying to scare you. I’m just trying to show you that there are much worse things in life than having a baby.”
    “Sophie, I can’t even believe what you’re telling me right now. Do you hear yourself?”
    “Unfortunately.”
    She opened her mouth and closed it several times, like there were a million thoughts floating through her head and she didn’t know which one to focus on.
    “Look,” I said. “I can’t even begin to imagine how you’re feeling, but I know that life is a gift. No matter what. And if the worst thing that happens to you and Jackson right now is having a child a few years too soon, then I think you’re lucky. And that’s the truth. There are much worse conditions that your mom and dad could have to accept about you, so don’t worry.”
    “I’m seventeen.”
    “You’ll be eighteen in May.”
    “I can’t take care of myself. I’m needy. I’m spoiled. I’m dependent on my parents.”
    “Well, that sounds pretty much like that baby of yours.” I looked down at her stomach. “You guys already have things in common.”
    She glanced down at her lap. When she looked back to me, there was a different, softer look in her eyes. Then she sighed. “Sophie, are you messing with me?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “About your illness?”
    “No, I’m not. I mean, I don’t know if anything is wrong for sure. We’ll find out tomorrow, but I feel it. You know?”
    “Damn it, Sophie. You’re not making this easy for me.” She studied my stoic expression before standing up. “I gotta pee.”
    When she left, I felt myself breathe a little easier. It was by far one of the most tense and important moments of my life.