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has lost weight since her pregnancy. She confessed her concern about gaining weight and everybody knowing. While I understand how harsh high school can be, this is very unsafe for the baby, and since she did tell us that you both plan on keeping it, I highly suggest, that after we release her, which won't be for a day or two, to make sure she has enough fluids, that you help her with this. She seems to be struggling right now, she needs your support." The nurse finished her lecture to me. 
     
    Funny how it seemed she was more upset that Lauren wasn't properly caring for herself, than how old we were. It was like no one wanted to point out the obvious, that we were way too young for this. No one wanted to mention it, when I myself wanted to scream at the top of my lungs, "I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING!!!!"
     
    "She needs rest, fluids, and food.  And she needs some TLC right now, someone to talk to.   She is resting now, but you all may go in and see her."
     
    All three of us mumbled a thank you and headed for Lauren's room. Now that I was relieved, I was so confused. Why did she lie to me? Why would she tell me she told them, make up the whole story about how pissed they were, and really they had no clue? How could she be completely ignoring the doctor’s orders? I was at such a loss for words, that I wasn't sure I could walk into the room and see her.  I realized she had been slipping away from me, too.    
     
    I just didn't know what to think anymore. I knew having a baby was going to get a lot more complicated from here. Maybe we weren't ready to have a baby. I opened her hospital room door thinking that we needed to have a talk about giving the baby up for adoption. It was really starting to feel like that was the best option for all of us. But, when I opened the door I saw her, with her gown lifted over her belly, which I now saw was far too thin, and I heard this little thump thump echoing in the room. Lauren looked right at me, stars in her eyes, a magnificent smile spread wide across her face.
     
    "Eric, it's the baby," she whispered. 
     
    I saw the doctor with a wand over her stomach and instantly realized what was happening.  I was hearing my baby's heart beat for the first time. I rushed to her side and grabbed her hand. I kissed her forehead, her hand, her tears. What an amazing miracle.
     
    "I'm sorry, Eric. I'm so, so sorry."
     
    "No, I'm sorry. I'll do better. I promise you and the baby. I'll be a better man."
     
    That promise, said through the tears, the confusion, the raw honesty, I knew was one I would hold forever. 
     
     

SEVEN
     
    Lauren had stayed in the hospital just one night, but then the doctors told her to take the rest of the week off. A piece of me was missing, those days she wasn't in school, but I went to see her every night after my baseball practice or game. I spent every spare minute I could with her. It twisted my stomach, every time I thought about how fragile she was feeling, how fragile that little baby was. The thought of losing her became unbearable. But Lauren became stronger. The shell she had been using to protect us from reality shattered when we heard the heart beat. We became stronger. It felt awful that I had almost lost her, let her slip through my fingers. But as terrible as I felt, it made me realize that I couldn't possibly want her more, love her more, or need her more. She became so much more than who she had been those few short months that I'd loved her. It was like we realized what we created, and if we were ready or not it didn't matter, we became a team. 
     
    Her mother helped her along, feeding her just the right foods and giving her just enough spirit, but something in her eyes changed. A little light had dimmed, but damn she tried hard to hide it. Her dad did not try so hard to hide his displeasure in the situation. Usually hiding away when I was over at the house, which became all the time.  When he did surface, I would cringe at the icy