Bridge to a Distant Star - Carolyn Williford [121]
Michal watched for a moment from her own suite’s doorway, indecisive. Exchanged vacant looks with Ruth and Jessica. Samantha and Jenny had retreated to Jenny’s room, where soft crying could be heard. Girls from adjoining suites flocked to Michal, throwing questions at her. Asking and demanding answers she didn’t know, could respond to only with raised shoulders and a shake of her head.
Fending them off, taking one last look at the chaos around her, Michal made a decision. They were just getting ready to go out the main doors when Michal caught up. Reached out to touch Beth’s elbow, making some sort of connection with this person who suddenly felt like a stranger to her.
“Beth, I’m … I’m so sorry.” Tears instantly flooded Michal’s eyes. She felt wretched. “I’m so sorry I didn’t know. I had no idea. But if you’d told me, I would’ve helped you.” She walked beside the stretcher. Attempting to stay alongside Beth as the paramedics skillfully maneuvered through the doors.
Beth looked up at Michal. Haunted eyes, appallingly white skin, her mouth limply falling open. But no words came out, no explanation. She looked down at the baby in her arms, hugged her closer.
And then they were gone. Michal simply stood there, watching them load her into the ambulance and drive away, sirens blaring and lights flashing. Tears began coursing down Michal’s cheeks until she erupted into sobs. Was oblivious to the other students who gathered in curiosity—many men among them. They pointed, whispered among themselves, speculated.
Michal looked up through her tears to see Allistair standing before her. He touched her lightly on the arm. Softly asked, “Michal, are you okay?”
She shook her head, covering her face with her hands. Felt Allistair pull her into his comforting arms, heard his heart beating against her cheek. He was warm and secure and comforting. For those few moments, some of the crushing pain dissolved away in his embrace.
Finally, he held her away from him so he could see into her face. “Are you okay? I was afraid you were going to pass out for a moment there.”
Michal nodded, attempted to control her sobs. Wiped away the tears from her soaked cheeks. Noted that she’d left a wet spot on Allistair’s shirt, where he’d held her tightly against him. “It’s Beth. She—”
“I heard. You had no idea at all?”
She shook her head, feeling a new surge of tears push at her eyes. “Allistair, how could I not know? And why didn’t she tell me? It’s my fault—my fault it happened this way.”
“Michal, no. You can’t blame yourself. Beth chose to hide her pregnancy—from everyone.” He ran a hand through his hair, tousled and uncombed from just getting out of bed. He’d immediately rushed to her to check how she was handling the crisis. “Cases like this, Michal? They say the pregnant woman is in such deep denial that even she doesn’t admit she’s expecting. So there’s no way she would’ve told you—no matter how close you might be.”
“But how?” She wrapped her arms across her chest, sobbing openly again, and stared up into the dawn of the morning sky. “I didn’t want to see it. That’s the real explanation here. Beth didn’t trust me because I wasn’t trustworthy. And I didn’t want to know the truth, Allistair.”
Michal gave a cynical laugh then, the obvious pain making Allistair wince. “Oh, yeah. Check out spiritual Michal, earnestly seeking God’s will for her life. While my roommate—who’s only inches away from me—is able to hide the fact that she’s giving birth? What a picture of my pathetic life. My roommate’s in agony—and I’m asleep.”
She turned to go back into the dorm, but Allistair grabbed her arm. “Michal, please—please stop blaming yourself. Beth’s responsible for her own choices. This