Back at my apartment, I sat at the kitchen table, the envelope now resting in front of me. I hadn’t opened it yet. It felt like Pandora’s box, full of potential futures I wasn’t ready to confront. The late afternoon sun streamed through the window, casting long shadows across the room.
I reached for my phone, hesitating before dialing my sister’s number. She picked up after the third ring, her voice cheerful and familiar. « Hey, what’s up? » she asked.
« I had my checkup today, » I started, trying to keep my voice steady. « Everything’s fine, mostly. But the doctor said something… unexpected. »
There was a pause on the other end, a silence that felt like concern. « What did he say? »
« He suggested I might want to consider life without children, » I replied, the words sounding foreign as I spoke them aloud.
My sister was quiet for a moment, processing. « That’s… a lot to take in. How do you feel about it? »
« I don’t know, » I admitted. « I haven’t even opened the envelope yet. It’s just… it’s a lot. »
« Take your time, » she said softly. « You don’t have to decide anything right now. »
Her reassurance helped, a small comfort in the midst of uncertainty. We talked for a while longer, about nothing in particular, just to fill the space with something familiar.
After we hung up, I sat there for a while, the envelope still unopened. The sunlight faded, and the kitchen slowly filled with shadows, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Finally, I picked up the envelope again, my fingers tracing the edges. It was time to face whatever was inside.
Read more on the next page ⬇️⬇️⬇️
