Celyne POV
The moment I closed the door behind me, a shiver ran down my spine. Silence pressed against my ears, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I could hear the echo of my own heartbeat. The weight of everything—the whispers, the stares, the sharp words meant to remind me of my place—finally landed. And for a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to simply breathe.
I set my bag down on the edge of the bed and sank to the floor, pressing my forehead against my knees. All the fear, all the anger, all the heartbreak I had tried to hold in for years came crashing at once. I had tried to convince myself I could endure it, that being a surrogate didn’t make me less than anyone, that I could survive the scorn, the ridicule, the constant reminders that I was not enough. But tonight
