The living room was heavy, like air itself was tired of breathing. Nobody talk, nobody move, everyone just staring like time stop. Daphne’s hands was shaking a bit, her eyes moving between her son and Ava like she can’t even trust what she’s seeing.
“You… you can’t give birth?” she said, her voice small and cracking. “Why didn’t you tell me, Ava?”
Ava’s lips moved but no word came out first. She looked away, face wet and shiny. “I didn’t want anybody pitying me,” she whispered, voice so low it almost disappeared.
Daphne just sighed, long and sad. “Adam, why you hide something like this from me?” she asked, sounding tired more than angry.
Adam rubbed his neck, looking like a boy caught lying. “She made me promise,” he said softly. “Didn’t want you to worry.”
Everything felt like it cou
