ing. She hadn't slept. The dark circles under her eyes felt permanent, a brand of her shame. She stepped

the window, her pregnant belly pushing against the fabric of her tight maternit

h to carry through the thin walls. "The new crib won't fit in our room, and we cer

l bowl like he wished he could disappear into it. He w

eo a cup of milk. Tanya turned, her eye

to hear. "Some of us are trying to prepare for a baby, Helena. It

didn't even look at Helena. "Tanya is right. This house is getting too

htening around the carton. "Leo has

ou need to start thinking about other people for a change, Helena. You can't

ter cleared his throat. "Now, Deena,

flashing. "Time to find another rich man t

air to the baby. The smell of those plastic t

ean up that mess. And air out the room. We don't need T

who was supposed to be her safety net, and saw nothing but a stranger. She looked at Tanya,

ng in her chest didn'

N

in the air, sh

nked. "Ex

ith a soft thud. "You don't have to worry about the to

uine shock. Deena took a step back, her

g. "Don't be ridiculous, Helena. Where will you go? You have

ingly steady. "But I won't be here. Tod

ribs, but her hands were steady. She pulled the two battered suitcases from under the bed and started throwing clothes insi

cond bag, his big brown eyes blinking

chest aching. "Hey, baby. W

up, rubbing his eyes. "A

na said, her voice thick. "

ped a message to Briana. Emerge

was frantic. "Helena? What happened? Of course!

call. She took a deep breath, feeling the

m. Deena and Tanya were standing by the windo

voice losing some of its edge. "You're goi

et, Mom," Helena sai

nced at Tanya, then back at Helena, his face a mask of

hed into his pocket and pulled out a wa

er head. "Cale

ey into her palm. "Tanya doesn't know about it. It's

er brother, the only person i

d, his voice cra

ding. She tucked it into her purse, grabbed the

ye to Gran

ed, her face unreadable. Tanya looked aw

ning air hitting her face like a splash of water. She called an Uber

e side mirror. She watched the small, cramped house grow

her stomach. But underneath it, something else was blooming. Relief. She was out

never go