Trapped in Love

Dazed, Paige rested her chin on Caroline’s shoulders. “You know, Carol, I was scared when I found out! was pregnant. But Alex’s caring support after I told him helped me let go of my fear and fully embrace this child.

“Gradually, I felt a deep connection with the child, as if we were one and couldn’t be separated. I also eagerly anticipated the childbirth. He is my precious darling, and I’ll risk anything to protect him. But then,

I didn’t expect to contract this disease.

“What do I do about the child? What will happen to him… Carol, the doctor said he will get infected, too. He’ll carry this virus for life if I give birth to him.

“But I couldn’t bring myself to abort. I just couldn’t… Besides, if people find out about my illness, they’ll judge me unfairly. They might think I’m impure. But that’s not who I am…”

Paige poured her heart out, tears streaming down her face.

up. “Don’t speak like that about yourself, I know the real you. Let’s find a cure for his illness. There must be ways. Don’t give up on

Caroline’s shoulder and shut her eyes tightly, disregarding Caroline’s words. She allowed Caroline to embrace her as she wept endlessly, consumed by excruciating

in her mind: the feeling of

Caroline stood

an unknown duration, Paige gently pushed Caroline away. She hoarsely said, lowering her red, swollen eyes, “Let’s

Paige behaved this way. She couldn’t fathom what

Caroline spoke slowly. “Come home with

tone turned cold. “I’ll terminate the pregnancy.”

was momentarily

child, the baby would be born with AIDS.

was a disease that would shatter the child’s life, condemning them to endless low self–esteem. But if the child were