She turns her head slightly, looking toward the window. The light catches the curve of her cheekbone, illuminating the dark circles under her eyes.
“Do you think it’s my fault?” Her voice is barely a whisper.
I squeeze her instantly. “No.”
“Of course not.” Linus leans up and caresses her cheek.
She swallows. “I keep remembering things. From when I was little. Warnings. About purity and punishment. About women who disobey.”
“Baby, no. The world doesn’t work that way. You’ve had years of therapy tellin’ you otherwise,” I remind her.
Avonna looks up at me, her eyes wet. “Of course Iknowit’s not my fault. Now you see how I was raised. I’m terrified for my sisters, but there’s not a thing I can do. It’s horrific.”
“Aye.” Linus kisses her ankle. “You were raised to be quiet.”
I lean closer. “But, you’re not.”
“You were taught to obey.” He kisses the arch of her foot.
“You don’t,” I add. “You question. You lead.”
She gives a small nod. Wipes her eyes with the back of her hand.
”Iknowit’s bullshit,“ she whispers. “I have to fight the voice telling me this happened because I wanted too much.”
I pull her closer. “No. Those fuckers are trying to take your joy. Your power. We aren’t gonna let them.”
“You scare them,” Linus agrees. “You left. You’re loved fiercely by both of us. They’re pissed you didn’t crawl back. They’re trying to get under your skin with your sisters. Don’t let them.”
I kiss the top of her head. “They hate how the world embraces you. Our fans support us. We’re authentically ourselves, and nobody can touch us.”
She blinks, but is unable to stop the tears from falling. “I’m sosad.”
“We are all are.” Linus wells up. “We wanted our baby.”
Her lips tremble. “I still do.”
I rest my forehead against hers. “We’re gonna be sad for a while. Meanwhile, nothing they say matters or has any influence on the outcome. You’re not what they call you. You’re a fucking beacon.”
Linus slides his hand up her thigh to interlock with mine and hers. “You show women what’s possible.”
She breathes in, ragged. Squeezes our fingers together.
We hold her for a long time.
Avonna’s told us before, over the years, what her childhood was like. The things they preached. How she was punished. It wasn’t until reading those letters and seeing it laid bare Linus and I were able to finally understand the weight she walked away from.
It makes everything she is now much more extraordinary.
Our wife had the strength to escape. The will to rebuild. The audacity to want love on her own terms.
She didn’t break.
She became.
We’ll build the family we dream of.
No one will define what love looks like inside these walls.
