the silence is thick as he stares you down. you, and the baby held protectively in your arms. the baby girl’s peering at him with her brown eyes.

you had broken up with joel months ago, only to find out you were pregnant with his child soon after.

“why didn’t you tell me?” joel asks, words like ash in his mouth. the baby’s a few months old. how had you even hid your pregnancy from him? he knows you weren’t together anymore, but… “i would’ve helped.” he doesn’t mean for his voice to crack.