in over the apartment, but th

g attention, unable to soothe itself without me. I held him close, rocking gently, counting my steps across the living r

e.

o.

re

y mother'

net

I pressed my forehead to the wall. Silent tears ran down my cheeks, but I cried quietly, desperately hoping Noah wouldn't f

Promising that I would never have to worry. And now... the man who had claimed to love me had vanished without warn

lotion and milk, and whispered, "It's okay, my love. Mama's here." My vo

bare pantry. My mind raced: How would I feed him tomorrow? How would I buy diapers

truth hit me

adn't ju

plann

e, every smile he had given-it had all been preparation. A slow, ca

e stone, pressing me to the ground even as I clung to Noah. But beneath the fear

g me like this would

ow to survive. I had

at against mine, and whispered into the darkn

wed at my stomach. But amidst the pain, I knew one truth: I would nev

and quiet, was the first ste