Mark moved to Lily’s side, pulling her into a hug.
“You should never have carried that alone,” he said. “You did nothing wrong.”
Lily cried quietly, relieved and shaken. The weight she had held for months finally lifted.
Across the room, Vanessa sat down heavily, overwhelmed by the consequences of her actions. It was clear she hadn’t intended harm—but intention doesn’t erase the effect on a child.
The rest of the evening unfolded in quiet conversations and separate corners. My parents soothed the little ones. My brother-in-law stepped outside to gather himself. Vanessa eventually left to give everyone space.
By morning, everything felt different—quieter, heavier, but honest.
The Day After
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