I used to believe love alone made a family. That was before I became a surrogate for my sister—and learned how fragile love becomes when expectations start to shape its edges.
She began to disappear. Skipped family dinners. Stopped visiting my boys—Jack, ten; Michael, eight; Tommy, seven; and little David, four. It was like joy had become unbearable.
Then, at Tommy’s birthday party, I saw her standing at the kitchen window. Outside, chaos reigned—balloons, frosting, kids in superhero capes. But Rachel stood still, hand pressed to the glass, eyes heavy with grief.
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