The young girl sat on the floor of her small bathroom, curled up as small as possible. That's how she felt in that moment. She was only 17 years old. She shouldn't be in this situation, and yet here she was.

She kept the timer she had snuck in with her on top of the toilet and would steal glances at it every few seconds. She was both dreading and anticipating the final ding of the timer so she could know what life was going to hold for her. She hoped for the best.

But she knew. Deep down, she knew that the moment the timer went off, life would completely change for her. Seeing the little pink plus sign would confirm what she was so dreading. It wouldn't seem definite until she had physical proof.

The girl reached up and pushed her long bangs out of her face and sighed. Everything was about to change and she knew that she had to accept that, and yet she didn't see how she could. It didn't seem fathomable.

She glanced at the timer. 30 seconds.

Her hands began to shake.

Her mom knocked on the door.

"Sweetie? Are you okay? You've been in there a while."

She mumbled a quiet "I'm fine" but didn't say anything else and after a moment, her mom walked away. She knew she had been distant lately, but she had every right to be, and her parents knew that.

She looked at the timer. 10 seconds.

Her heart began to pound.

She reached up and grabbed the offending stick that had been perched on the edge of the sink. She closed her eyes, test in hand, and began to imagine her life if the test was negative. She imagined herself at 25, having a handsome husband and a newborn in her arms. She imagined having a few more kids later on. It was the last time she would see that life, that fantasy.

The timer dinged.

She opened her eyes.

Positive.