Milo walks down the very block he did about a week ago; this time without any of the excitement he usually feels. His stomach is in a knot; each footstep forward feels harder to make than the last one. He finally reaches his destination: the treehouse in front of Gwen’s yard.
Milo looks up, hoping to see some movement in the treehouse. He sighs, about to give up and head back around until the front door of Gwen’s house opens. Milo quickly turns around, noticing Gwen’s mother standing there.
Beth: I’m sorry; are you looking for Gwen?
Milo: *nervous* Uhm, uh–
Beth: My husband and I have noticed you walking up and down our street all week and–
Gwen walks up behind her mother.
Gwen: *embarrassed* Mom…
Beth: What? Do you know this young man?
Gwen looks over at Milo; it was the first time Milo has physically seen Gwen since the night in the treehouse.
Gwen: *to Beth* Yes, mom. He’s… a friend from school.
Beth and Gwen look back at Milo, who is now awkwardly standing in the middle of their yard.
…
Gwen opens the door of her bedroom and walks in, letting Milo follow behind her. She doesn’t say anything to him; she simply goes to the corner of her room where a window stoop-now-seat is with a munch of books piling up. Milo stands in the middle of her room, observing her.
Milo: That’s surely a lot of books to read for the first day of summer break.
Gwen: It’s for AP English; they gave us a reading list of books to finish before the school year starts.
Milo: That’s… a lot.
Gwen: I’ll manage.
Gwen turns her back on Milo, flipping through the various pages of books. Milo slowly walks closer to Gwen, watching her every move. He notices her side eyeing him as he gets closer. He slowly sits next to Gwen, facing her as she skims.
Gwen: *not looking up* I doubt you’re here to help me read these books…
Milo: You haven’t been on AIM in days.
Gwen’s head shoots up to look at Milo; she doesn’t say anything.
Gwen: I don’t feel like IMing anybody–
Milo: That’s completely fine, but I’m not just anybody.
Gwen shuts her book hard, making a thud sound against its pages.
Milo: How are you doing?
Gwen: *crosses her arms along her chest* That’s a stupid question.
Milo: It probably is, but it doesn’t mean I don’t want to know.
Gwen: I’m fine, Milo…
Milo: *stern* Stop it.
Milo and Gwen stare at each other for a moment before Gwen looks away; preferable trying to hold back her tears.
Milo: I already told you, I’m not going anywhere.
Gwen: Milo–
Milo: And I meant it.
Gwen doesn’t say anything else; she just looks at Milo as he speaks.
Milo: Mr. Harrison petitioned to remove me from the dual major program.
Gwen: *shocked* What?
Milo: He hounded at the fact that I missed the dual major and strings performance and said I wasn’t fit to be in the program.
Gwen sighs as her face softens.
Gwen: Because you came over here… I’m so sorry–
Milo: You did nothing wrong.
Gwen: *confused* You missed the show because of me.
Milo: You think I care more about a stupid program than you?
Gwen: *concerned* Milo, you worked hard to be in the dual majors program. You earned your spot and for Mr. Harrison to petition you be removed is not fair–
Milo: You matter more, Gwen.
Milo pauses before he speaks again.
Milo: You and… the baby matter more.
Gwen doesn’t say anything back. She watches Milo gently put his hand on top of hers, slightly squeezing it for reassurance.
Gwen: *softly* How are you so… calm about this?
Milo: Believe me, I’m screaming inside; but one of us has to be the one to make sure the other is alright. I rather be that one.
Gwen smiles before she lets out a deep sigh.
Gwen: *worried* Milo… we have to make a decision about this.
Milo looks at Gwen, a bit confused.
Milo: A decision?
Gwen: We’re only 15. We’ve just finished freshman year of high school. You have to deal with the dual major issue, I have tons of work for these AP courses, you have your band, I have my extracurricular activities–
Milo: What are you trying to say?
Gwen: *dumbfounded* What do you mean ‘what am I trying to say’?!
Milo: You’ve said nothing but the obvious things, Gwen–
Gwen: *annoyed* The obvious things are the obvious reasons we can’t keep it.
Milo freezes in place, not knowing how to respond.
Milo: Is that what you want to do?
Gwen: *impatient* You want me to make the decision?
Milo: It’s your body, Gwen. I don’t have a say what you should do with your body–
Gwen: This isn’t just my baby–
Milo: *annoyed* Would it matter what I say in this situation though?
Gwen gets up from where she’s sitting and walks to her desk. Milo sighs, getting up to follow Gwen.
Milo: This is… all new to me, Gwen. Having any say in a decision like this feels wrong only because it sounds like you’ve already made up your mind.
Gwen: Made up my mind?
Milo: You don’t want to keep the baby.
Gwen scrunches her eyebrows, hearing Milo finally saying the taboo thing out loud.
Gwen: Do you also not want to keep it?
Milo: Gwen, I can’t make that decision for you–
Gwen: *stern* Convince me why we shouldn’t keep it then.
Milo looks at Gwen, not understanding where she is going with this.
Milo: You just said the obvious reasons why we shouldn’t–
Gwen: But I’m not convinced.
Milo’s eyes widen, finally piecing together the true nature of this serious talk.
Milo: You… want to keep the baby?
Gwen doesn’t say anything right away; she ponders her answer before speaking. She finally turns her chair to face Milo.
Gwen: I know it’s not the right decision… but… getting rid of it also doesn’t feel right either. What if this is a sign?
Milo: A sign?
Gwen: What if I don’t get the chance to have a baby when I get older? What if this baby happened for a reason?
Milo: Gwen, you’re talking in riddles now.
Gwen: *sighs* What if this baby happened because this is the only chance I’ll ever have to have a baby? It’s like… the universe is telling me it had to happen now because I won’t be able to do it in the future?
Milo takes a moment to understand what Gwen is trying to say. He hates hearing her talk about her life as if it’s ending, but understands why she views it in such way. He understands why she’s viewing this in the same way as well.
Gwen: But… I can’t make this decision alone, Milo. I can’t make this decision knowing that you don’t want the same thing.
Before Milo has time to think and come up with an answer, Gwen’s mother knocks on the bedroom door before entering. The two teens separate from each other, creating some distance before her mother sees them.
Beth: Dinner’s ready if you both want to come down and eat.
Gwen looks at Milo and puts a smile on her face.
Gwen: Would you like to stay for dinner, Milo?
Milo takes a moment to answer. He sees just how scared Gwen is, and how hard she is trying to hide it from the outside world. In this moment, he feels the need to protect not only her, but their baby as well.
Milo: Sure.
Gwen gets up from her seat and begins to walk out of her bedroom door. Milo follows, closing her door behind them.
Letters From Liz. 