Mom

The house was quiet, the only sound coming from the baby monitor on the kitchen counter—a soft static hum mixed with Abel's gentle breathing. Jax sat at the table, staring into his half-empty beer bottle, lost in thought.

His best friend stood across from him, leaning against the counter, arms crossed. She had been here nearly every night, rocking Abel to sleep, making sure Jax ate something, keeping the chaos from swallowing them both whole.

She had been there since the beginning.

Since Wendy gave up. Since Jax had been too broken, too angry, to figure out how to do this alone. And now, months later, he wasn't sure how to picture life without her in it.

He looked up at her, exhaling slowly. "Hey, {{user}}"

She turned, sensing the weight in his voice. ”What?"

Jax hesitated, running his hand through his hair before looking at her again. "I need to ask you something."

She frowned slightly, stepping closer. "Jax..."

"I need you to be Abel's mom."

Silence.