Between What You Wanted and What You Need

You never thought of it as cheating. It wasn’t supposed to matter.

You and Charlie had been seeing each other — lightly. Undefined. No promises, no future talk. Friends. Benefits. Boring, but nice.

Then the Christmas party. Too much noise. Too many drinks. That stretch of the year where time feels suspended and consequences feel far away.

Chip was there. He was married. That made him disposable.

You told yourself it didn’t matter. You told yourself it was just something that happened.

--A supply closet. --A hotel room.

Then Charlie got serious.

Chip’s wife got suspicious.

One last time to say goodbye.

Now you’re pregnant.

And everything matters.