“Lily? I know you’re awake. You didn’t eat much at dinner. Mom and Dad asked me to bring you some food. Get up and eat?”
When I didn’t answer, he sighed deeply.
“They really do see you as family. Otherwise, they wouldn’t go to the trouble.”
“They’re old. Whatever issues you have, can’t you just talk them through?”
Under the blanket, my fists clenched tight.
I forced myself to breathe evenly.
I was waiting.
Waiting for an apology.
But he still didn’t understand.
The conflict wasn’t between me and his parents.
It was between the two of us.
I waited a long, long time.
Waited until he lay down beside me, until the mattress sank under his weight.
Waited until his breathing steadied, until he fell asleep.
Still no apology.
Tears fell as I stared at his back.
Maybe it really was time to end it.
At dawn, he got up as usual, washed, dressed, and left for work.
Before leaving, he kissed my forehead.
“Good morning, sweetheart.”
His calm voice made it seem as though nothing had happened the night before.
I watched his departing figure, swallowing back the words I couldn’t say.
The truth was, I hadn’t lied.
I really was pregnant.
For the next two days, we lived in cold silence.
He went out, I stayed home.