ra'

he courage to do what I had been d

he storm raging inside me. My mom held me just a little longer than usual

ou okay, sweetheart?" sh

ust a little tired,

red the table, we settled in the living room, the familiar comfort of the space doing little to

y mouth to speak,

Ethan

hed on my lap, and I looked down, trying to mask

ly, bitterly.

en both my parents turned to me

sked, her voice soft b

in my throat and re

sat forward slightly, f

o her mouth. "Oh, Anora

Debbie," I added, ba

ce. Heavie

trembled in disbelief. "Y

wly. "Yeah.

e didn't know whether to cry or scream, and my dad wa

t that girl," Mom said, shaking her head.

th," I murmured. "

d her arms around me, he

whispered. "You deserve someon

her scent like I used to as a child. But

ou something else

them loo

ling myself not to cr

ll heavy int

the first

confusion underneath it crackled

back the tears, but they were already threatening

aid it gently enough, it wouldn't hurt as much. I looked up to

slipped off

rozen in a mix of shock and disappointment. I saw it clearly-

she finally managed to ask

ok my

The day I caught Ethan and Debbie together... I lost it. I went to a bar just to b

breath

the window. The silence between the three of us grew heavy, suffocating.

you pregnant?" she asked

t into me, c

over and over like a broken prayer. "I didn't mean

able to stop the tears. I could feel my father's eyes on me, c

, her voice low but trembling with emotion. "One

ough with an abortion. I didn't even think twice. I j

chest heaving. "I'm not asking you to be okay w

t, no one s

speak, just reached out and pul

d into my hair. "But we'll figu

st his chest,

Her lips pressed into a thin line, he

id. "But you're our daugh

firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument.

get your things, okay?" my mom add

A quiet warmth bloomed in my chest. They weren't yelling. They weren't cast

re ready to

ant eve

er eyes brimming with emotion. "No ma

they came from relief. I nodded, too choked

n't a