“Is everything okay, here?” Mom says, poking
her head around the doorway, listening and ready
to intervene. She’ll be staying with us for a bit.
“I’ll take care of it,” she says, indicating that my
dad should leave us alone.
My father nods and they exchange a glance of
mutual comprehension. Luckily, my parents
remained on good terms after the separation; they
are friends and in the past they have always agreed
about the decisions made together for my sake.
My mom comes in and sits on the bed.
“Have you eaten? Shall I bring you something?”
I shake my head and rest it on the pillow,
turning on my side.
“You have to eat.”
Strange how all that appetite I had has just
vanished.
“Erin, Nate is a good boy. Even if he made a
mistake. He’s ready to take on his responsibility
and stay with both of you.”
“I beg you, Mama. Not you too!”
“Let me finish … I was saying, he’s the father
of this creature, biologically speaking, but you
know, it’s not blood that ties people together. It’s
easy to love blood of your blood. Who comes from
you and brings with it the family line,” she talks
while caressing my hair. “You know what isn’t
easy at all? Falling in love with a creature that
hasn’t come into this world yet, loving her with all
your heart and soul, waiting for her arrival with
