One would expect that by now, she'd spend less time dressing up and more time praying for a child," Lydia gossiped to Vera. Her voice, laced with mockery, was rather loud—loud enough for the entire yard to hear.
Susan sat perfectly still, her smile trembling like a candle flame in the wind. Blinking rapidly, she willed her tears not to fall in front of her sisters-in-law. She had endured years of verbal assaults due to her predicament, and as such, she had learned to bottle up her emotions, to swallow the pain. But this! Every word sliced too deep, too sharp, at her heart. She couldn't help but ask herself a series of agonizing questions: Was it her fault? She didn't have children yet, but not for lack of trying. Heaven knew she'd give anything to have just one, one she could call her own!
The sound of her husband's voice jolted her back to reality. Unbeknownst to them, Kevin had just returned from fetching cool drinks and some snacks. As he turned the corner, he heard his sister's voice and froze—then stepped fully into the moment, his presence startling.
"Lydia," he called out sharply, dropping the tray onto the table with a clatter. "What on earth did you just say?"
Lydia laughed nervously. "You know I was only joking. I didn't mean any of that."
"Oh, no you didn't! You meant every word, and it was cruel." His voice was calm but firm. "You think because you've had three kids, you've earned the right to mock someone else's pain?"
Lydia looked over at Vera, then back at Kevin, attempting to voice a word, but he cut her off.
"Just so you know, we've both been trying, and it's nobody's fault. But your words... they lack sensitivity and respect. Don't you ever speak to my wife in that manner again."
He turned to Susan, his wife, gently taking her hand. There was so much love and reassurance in his voice. "You aren't broken," he said. "And you owe no one whatsoever an explanation for your journey. It's me and you in this, all the way."
Susan's tears finally fell—but this time, they weren't from shame. They were from being seen.
Images were AI generated
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