The Price Of His Choice

child. Then his ex, Kenya, showed up, claiming s

I sat alone at our baby' s ultrasound. Later,

my late father' s locket, shattered, wit

Elliott violently thr

ng with you?" he roar

who tried to kill our baby

mily in public while I was erased. He thought I was

hile the city celebrated his touching love story,

pte

ack with a child she claimed was his. Just an hour before, I was tracing the curve of my belly, humming a lullab

arted, his voic

eady bracing for the impact.

He choked on the words. "And sh

physical blow. My brea

, the single word sounding f

immaculate hair. "She says she didn't want to b

a raw edge to it. "By keeping

er illness, it's... it changed everythi

me, but I instinctively pul

I already knew the answer in the way

ck with a guilt I couldn't comprehend. "She's dy

ur baby nee

, my voice barely audibl

This changes nothing about us. You are my wife. This baby i

n to us, his real family. His words sounded hollow even as he spoke them. I wanted to believe him, every

said, the words a fresh wou

that suddenly felt too big and too empty. He promised to be back before my nex

ver s

eart, a lonely counterpoint to the silence where his should have been. The doctor's voice was gentle as she guided

lynn, are you okay? I just... I saw Elliott. He was at

where Elliott and I had our first re

nating the familiar iron gates. And there they were. Elliott, laughing, his arm draped aroun

mudge from her chin with his thumb, the same tender gesture

en, the boy, Leo, pointed at something, and Elliott swung him up into his arms, spinning him around.

forehead, laughing with me, holding my hand. They felt like lies now. I selected a few, the ones where his smile

alt beside my car. Elliott's mother, Coretta. Her

storming towards them. "You manipulative witch!" He

nya stumbled back, her eyes wide with shock. Coretta's hand connected sha

her voice trembling. "After everything your mother did t

m, shielding Kenya. "Mom! What are you doing?"

ng, Elliott? Standing there protecting this... this parasite? Have you forgo

iott yelled, his face strained. "Kenya

liott! Just like her mother was! That woman, a home-wrecker, seduced your fat

iott's arm. "He's just upset, Mrs. Ful

don't know your game? You show up, claiming terminal illness, claiming a child, al

aw clenched. "Stop it, Mom! You're

sat alone, pregnant, waiting for him, he was calling her vu

ning sign. The doctor had told me to avoid stress. Av

wards Coretta. "Mom," I whispered, reaching for her arm.

he shadows, a ghost at his own wake. His eyes widene

and outstretched. "Jalynn, what

ed. "Don't," I choked out, my voice

to concern for me. "Mom, please," I pleaded, tears finally

a wave of nausea. I closed my eyes, trying to stead

rged at me, a small, aggressive ball of fury. "You leave

fell. Hard. A searing pain shot through my abdomen. My hand fl

ood. Too much blood.

ified shriek cut through

"Call an ambulance!" he roared, his voice filled with