My Ten-Year-Old’s Pregnancy Test Was Positive –

“Sophie, sometimes children—”

“I am not lying!”

The heart monitor beside her bed began beeping faster. A nurse entered and asked everyone except me to leave.

Sophie turned her face toward the wall.

“They keep saying they believe me, but they don’t.”

I sat beside her.

“The doctors believe you.”

“What about you?”

The question cut deeper than anything Eric had said.

“I believe you.”

“Did you believe me yesterday?”

I remembered looking away from Daniel through the glass.

“I was frightened,” I admitted. “And for one moment, I let that fear become doubt. I am so sorry.”

Dr. Shah arrived with a neurosurgeon later that morning. Additional blood tests showed that Sophie’s hCG remained elevated. Another tumor marker was also abnormal.