His voice softened, turning almost coaxing. "Linda, don't worry. I just want to take care of Delia and her child. I won't cross any lines."
"Focus on your health. Have the baby safely. I'll come visit you and the child once a month."
"I've already bought so many clothes for the baby. I even picked out a name..."
He sounded almost giddy. But my mind was already drifting, detaching from his words.
In that moment, I knew I had truly let him go.
A soft chime broke through the haze. A text notification.
My gaze dropped to the screen.
Dear Ms. Hayward, your abortion procedure is scheduled for three days from now.
That night, I drifted into a hazy sleep.
Suddenly, I found myself standing in a frozen wasteland. The blizzard raged with terrifying force, the cold cutting straight to my bones. My whole body went rigid, and just as I was about to collapse, a gentle warmth spread from my belly. A soft, childlike voice called out beside my ear: "Mommy..."
I trembled, instinctively reaching to embrace it.
The little orb of light was so small—I could hold it completely in both hands—yet it was so warm. So warm that tears nearly spilled from my eyes.
"I'm sorry..."