"Mommy," Ethan whispered, his voice barely audible yet unmistakable in its clarity and intention.
The word hung between them like a confession, like a prayer, like a question and an answer all at once. Nina froze completely, unable to move or breathe or think beyond that single, devastating syllable that had just rewritten everything she thought she understood about her place in this child's life. Her heart stopped, then slammed against her ribs with a heavy, agonizing thud that blurred her vision for a fraction of a second.
The air in the foyer seemed to thicken, pressing against her skin like a physical weight. She felt the world tilt slightly on its axis, as though gravity itself had shifted in response to that one word.
