la's
d felt lighte
gentle warmth. For the first time in weeks, I woke with more than hope. The tes
boyish grin, the one that crinkled the corners of his eyes. Maybe he'd pull me into his
gin now. Not three months fr
miled before even looking, expecting hi
was
mb hesitating o
now how to say thi
k. I tapped it.
a dark tuxedo, standing beneath an arch of white roses. A wom
My Alex. Smiling and sliding a
ged somewhere d
pered. "No, t
image. Then, a video. His voic
ou to be m
my hand, clattering ag
away as if the sound coul
led toward the sink, grippin
nock came
mbled slightly from the doorway
se roared in my ears, a st
ide, laundry basket
ell
. "He..." I pointed to the fallen phone. "He
own carefully, like the world might shatter if she moved too
ightened. "
"He said he was traveling. He said it
clung to her blouse like a child, trembling. "How could
going to tell him. About the baby." My voice
, pulling back sl
. "I found out yesterday. I was
hitched. "
e in hand, eyes wide. "What's happening? Why are peo
as enough. Sophie looked from
hispered. Louder and f
I sobbed.
ing. And now he's...." Sophie's hands trembled as she scrolled th
to quiet my sobs. "I
g a trembling hand through her hair. "He's tr
en to me, sweetheart. This child-this isn't h
d through
back to him. You will not let this define you. You will stand, Bella. Y
stomach. Something inside me depended
p you. Whatever you need, Bells.
g faintly on the table. Alex's smile, frozen in that perfe
my finger, cold and unyielding. I set it down gently, reverently, beside
ne," I w
me close. "Let this be the last ni
kept coming, softly, si
e to bed, I lay awake. The city hummed quietly outsid
up. A new me
all. Busy day. We'll
over the screen.
omise" made m
elf, tasting the lie.
my stomach, whispering to the
breathed. "And I swear, I'll ne
ep inside, something changed, a faint
shattered, I closed my eyes a
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