Jess gazed at the object before her, her heart racing with disbelief. Was her vision playing a cruel prank? This couldn't be real; when did it happen? As realization slowly washed over her, her face drained of color. Was life not already hard enough? Now, she found herself in this absurd situation, a twisted joke thrown her way. Should she even bother informing the father? "Oh God," she muttered, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. Would dying soon not be punishment enough? Yet, fate decided to torment her further by making her pregnant – for a slave, no less. Her laughter turned into a sorrowful sob, the weight of her predicament too much to bear.
