“He Was Funny and Charming”: Anaïs Never Expected What Came After a One-Night Stand

My name is Anaïs, I am 29 years old, and two years ago, my life took a completely unexpected turn. What was supposed to be a simple night out, a fleeting moment with a stranger, led me to one of the most significant decisions of my life.

The evening began at a casual get-together with friends. The atmosphere was light, filled with laughter, and that’s when I met Julien, a charming and funny man. It was meant to be just a one-night fling, no strings attached. Just a brief escape from my otherwise orderly life. However, a few weeks later, everything changed. When my period didn’t come, I initially thought it was just stress. But as days went by, I could no longer deny the obvious. A pregnancy test confirmed it: I was pregnant. Panic set in. I laid the test on the table, overwhelmed with confusion. How could this have happened? It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t what I wanted.

I took a few days to think things over by myself, not discussing it with anyone. I found Julien’s number and after much hesitation, I contacted him. He responded quickly, but made it clear: he respected my choice, but he wasn’t ready to become a father. His words were calm, but it was clear I would be alone in this decision. Initially, abortion seemed like the most logical solution. I had no partner, wasn’t financially prepared, and the baby was unplanned. I made an appointment at a clinic to discuss my options. There, I met a counselor who listened to me compassionately. We talked about my doubts, fears, and why I was leaning towards terminating the pregnancy. However, leaving that meeting, I felt empty, as if part of me was resisting the idea.

“It wasn’t a rational decision”

That’s when I decided to confide in my mother. She listened without judgment, and said something that changed everything: “Whatever you decide, it needs to be your choice, one you can live with without regrets.” That statement echoed in my mind for days. I couldn’t see myself giving up on the life that was starting to grow inside me. It wasn’t a rational decision, but a deeply instinctive one. Despite the fear and uncertainty, I felt I had to give this baby a chance. My decision wasn’t easy to accept. Judgments began as soon as I shared the news with my acquaintances. “Are you sure you want to keep it?”, “You’re going to ruin your life”, “You don’t even have a father for this child”. These comments hurt, but I expected them. What mattered to me was the deep-seated certainty that this baby had come into my life for a reason, and I was ready to welcome it.

The following months were challenging. Being pregnant and alone, with few references, was a real challenge. But each ultrasound, each little kick I felt, reminded me why I had made this choice. The first time I heard her heartbeat, I cried. That sound gave me a strength I never knew I had. When my daughter, Léonie, was born, everything made sense. Seeing her, holding her in my arms, felt like everything else faded away. Certainly, my life is more complicated now. I juggle between my job and being a mother, often with little sleep and a lot of responsibilities. But I have never regretted my decision. Léonie is my greatest pride and proof that sometimes the hardest choices make us grow.

“He hasn’t changed his mind”

After Léonie was born, I gathered my courage and contacted Julien again to tell him he had become a father. Perhaps naively, I hoped that the reality of a baby would change something, that he would at least want to meet her. But his response was the same as before: he respected my decision to keep the child, but he did not wish to be involved in her life. Initially, this hurt. I felt like I was carrying the weight of a situation that also involved Julien on my own. But over time, I realized that you can’t force someone to take on a role they don’t want. So, I decided to let go and focus on my daughter and our future together, without waiting for anything from him.

Today, Julien has no contact with Léonie. Sometimes it pains me to think that she will grow up without knowing her father. But I prefer to offer her a life full of love and stability, rather than chase after someone who doesn’t want to be there. If one day he changes his mind, I’ll be open to discussing it, for Léonie’s sake. But for now, we are moving forward together, and I am proud of what we are building. I chose to keep this child because I felt, deep down, that it was the right thing to do. Not to prove anything or out of obligation, but because I knew I could offer her love, even under imperfect circumstances. And today, every smile from Léonie reminds me that I did well to listen to my heart.