Chapter 17
I became pregnant at thirty-three.
I found out in the bathroom on a rainy morning.
The test turned positive so fast I sat down on the closed toilet seat.
My first thought was joy.
My second was fear.
My third was Linda.
I hated that she got even a second inside that moment.
Daniel knocked softly.
“Elena?”
I opened the door.
He saw the test.
Then saw my face.
He knelt immediately.
“Tell me what you need.”
Not “Are you happy?”
Not “This is amazing.”
What do you need?
I cried.
“I need Linda to never know before I’m ready.”
“Done.”
“I need my mother here when the baby comes.”
“Of course.”
“I need every hospital form checked by our lawyer.”
“I’ll call her today.”
I laughed through tears.
“That sounds insane.”
“No,” he said. “It sounds like ours.”
Pregnancy was hard.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
Mom flew in for the last month.
She guarded my hospital bag like treasure.
Inside it, my passport sat in the side pocket.
Not because I needed it.
Because I wanted the symbol reversed.
May you like
This time, no one could take my movement.
No one could decide where I belonged.
