Chapter 17: The Unspoken Choice
The door clicked shut behind Emily with a soft thud, and for a moment, she was alone in the entryway. The house was warm, the scent of freshly baked bread wafting through the air, a sharp contrast to the coldness she felt in her chest. The couple stood across from her, their faces a mix of expectation and anxiety. They had waited for this moment—this meeting—but Emily had no idea how she would get through it.
The woman stepped forward first, her expression tentative but filled with a quiet, hopeful determination. “We just want to thank you for coming,” she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. “We know this is hard. We know it’s not easy for you.”
Emily swallowed, the lump in her throat making it difficult to speak. The woman’s words were kind, but they only made the situation feel worse. She had come here, knowing what it would cost her, and yet, now that she was standing in their home, in front of these strangers, it felt like she was losing a part of herself.
“Do you want to see her?” the man asked, his voice gentle but laced with an edge of impatience, as if he, too, was caught in a whirlwind of emotions he couldn’t control.
Emily nodded, her hands still trembling. She couldn’t bring herself to speak, but the woman turned and led her through the house to a small living room, where the baby was lying in a crib, asleep. Emily’s heart squeezed painfully in her chest at the sight. She had spent so many months caring for this child, and now, this little girl, this precious girl, was about to be taken away from her.
The baby stirred as they approached, her eyes fluttering open, and for a fleeting second, Emily saw the familiar, trusting look in her eyes—the same one that had made Emily fall in love with her every single day. But it was too late. The decision had already been made.
As Emily gazed at the baby, the love she had for her swelled in her chest, but so did the overwhelming sense of inevitability. She looked up at the couple, who were standing behind her, waiting for her to act. Their hope was palpable, but so was the grief that hung in the air, a grief that mirrored her own.
She wanted to say something, anything to delay it, to hold onto this moment for just a little longer. But the truth was, she had already made her choice.
“I’ll… I’ll bring her,” Emily said, her voice cracking as she carefully lifted the baby from the crib. The woman’s face lit up, and Emily handed the child to her with a trembling hand. The woman took the baby carefully, holding her close to her chest, and Emily’s heart twisted as she watched them.
The man reached out and gently touched Emily’s shoulder. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
Emily stood frozen, unable to move, as she watched them hold her daughter, her child. And with that, the life she had known for the past months began to slip away.
To be continued…
What will happen now that the baby has been handed over? Can Emily find peace, or will this moment haunt her forever? Find out in Chapter 18.