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