Chapter 3
1039 Words
The Knock That Changed Everything
Queen’s hand hovered weakly over the door.
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She had been knocking for almost thirty minutes.
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Her knuckles hurt.
Her arms ached.
Her hope—
Fading.
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“Please…” she whispered, resting her forehead against the door. “Just open the door…”
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The baby stirred in her arms, letting out a soft cry.
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“I know… I know,” Queen said gently, rocking her. “I’m trying… I’m really trying…”
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Her voice broke.
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“Maybe he’s not home…” she muttered.
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She took a step back.
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“This was a mistake,” she whispered to herself. “I shouldn’t have come…”
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She turned slowly.
Ready to leave.
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Then—
The sound of a lock clicking.
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Her heart stopped.
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The door creaked open.
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Darren stood there, half awake, his eyes heavy with sleep.
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“What is—” he started, then paused, squinting.
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His eyes adjusted.
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“Queen?” he said, confused.
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Relief flooded her face instantly.
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“Darren…” she breathed.
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He blinked, rubbing his eyes.
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“Do you know what time it is?” he asked, his voice rough. “Why are you banging on my door like that?”
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“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I didn’t know what else to do.”
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His gaze dropped.
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To the baby in her arms.
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He frowned.
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“What’s that?” he asked slowly.
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Queen’s throat tightened.
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“It’s… a baby.”
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“I can see that,” he replied, now fully awake. “Whose baby is it?”
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Silence.
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Queen’s grip tightened.
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“Darren…” she whispered.
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His expression changed instantly.
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“No,” he said, shaking his head. “Don’t tell me—”
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“She’s yours,” Queen said, her voice trembling.
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Darren stared at her.
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Then let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
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“You’ve lost your mind,” he said. “That’s not funny.”
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“I’m not joking,” she replied, tears forming. “I didn’t even know I was pregnant.”
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“That’s impossible,” he snapped. “And even if it’s true, why are you bringing her here?”
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Queen swallowed hard.
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“I can’t take her home,” she said.
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Darren scoffed.
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“So you thought of me?” he said bitterly. “After six months of disappearing, now you remember I exist?”
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“It’s not like that,” she said quickly.
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“Then what is it like?” he shot back. “You left me like I meant nothing, Queen!”
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His voice rose.
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“I had nothing!” he continued. “No job, no money…" Nothing stable! isn't that why you sl left!”
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Queen flinched.
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“I didn’t leave because of that,” she said softly. “I left because things weren’t right anymore.”
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“And now they are?” he asked coldly, gesturing at the baby.
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The baby cried louder.
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Both of them fell silent for a moment.
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Darren sighed, running his hand through his hair.
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“I can barely take care of myself,” he said quietly. “Look around.”
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Queen glanced inside.
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The room was small.
Untidy.
Barely furnished.
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“I don’t even have a proper job,” Darren continued. “Some days I eat, some days I don’t. And you expect me to take care of a baby?”
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Her eyes filled with tears.
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“I don’t expect anything,” she said. “I just… I don’t know what to do.”
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Darren looked away.
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“I’m not the solution to your problem,” he muttered.
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Queen stepped closer.
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“She’s not a problem,” she said softly.
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Silence.
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“Then what is she?” Darren asked.
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Queen looked down at the baby.
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“She’s… ours.”
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The words hung in the air.
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Darren’s eyes shifted slowly to the baby again.
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Something pulled him closer this time.
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“Let me see her,” he said quietly.
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Queen hesitated.
Then, he slowly uncovered the baby’s face.
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Darren leaned in.
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And froze.
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His eyes widened slightly.
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The baby blinked.
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Her tiny face calm now.
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But what struck him—
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Was the resemblance.
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Her eyes.
Her nose.
Even the shape of her lips.
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Darren stepped back slowly.
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“That’s…” he started.
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His voice faded.
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“She looks like you,” Queen said softly.
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He didn’t deny it.
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He couldn’t.
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His expression changed.
Not anger.
Not rejection.
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Something deeper.
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Confusion.
Shock.
Realization.
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“She really is mine…” he whispered.
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Queen said nothing.
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The baby moved slightly, her tiny fingers curling.
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Darren stared at her.
Long.
Hard.
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Then he sighed deeply.
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“You’ve put me in a difficult situation,” he said.
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“I know,” Queen replied, her voice breaking.
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“I have nothing, Queen,” he continued. “No stable job. No money. No plans.”
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Tears rolled down her face.
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“I have nothing too,” she said. “But she has us.”
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Silence.
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Darren closed his eyes briefly.
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Then opened them.
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“Come inside,” he said quietly.
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Queen blinked.
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“What?”
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“I said come inside,” he repeated. “We can’t be talking about this outside.”
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Relief flooded her instantly.
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“Darren…” she whispered.
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“Don’t thank me yet,” he said, stepping aside. “I don’t know how this is going to work.”
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She walked in slowly.
Still holding the baby tightly.
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“But we’ll figure it out,” he added.
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And for the first time that night—
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Queen felt something she thought she had lost.
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Hope.
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- Writer
