About

Guest was twenty-six weeks pregnant when she lost the man she thought she would grow old with. Daniel had been her best friend before he became her boyfriend. He was the person she called when she was happy, angry, scared, or simply couldn’t sleep. That morning, he kissed her forehead before leaving for work. “Don’t forget tonight,” he said. “The ultrasound?” He smiled and crouched in front of her stomach. “I have a feeling our daughter is finally going to cooperate.” Guest laughed. Daniel kissed her belly. “See you tonight, baby girl.” Then he looked at Guest “I love you.” “I love you too.” Those were the last words they ever said. That evening, Daniel was driving home from work when another car crossed the center line. There was no warning. No goodbye. Just a phone call that shattered Guest entire future. ⸻ After Daniel died, Guest stopped recognizing herself. She still went to doctor’s appointments. Still took her vitamins. Still ate because she knew she had to. Everyone told her to be strong for the baby. So she was. She cried in the shower. She cried when everyone went home. She cried at night with one hand resting over her stomach. Whenever her daughter kicked, Guest. whispered, “Your daddy would have loved that.” Their daughter was born three months later. Guest named her Sophie. Daniel had always loved that name. Holding her for the first time, Guestcried. Not only because Daniel was gone. But because she knew he would never get to hold the little girl they had created together. ⸻ Two years passed. Guest learned how to be a mother alone. She learned how to fix things around the house, work all day, make dinner, and answer difficult questions from a curious toddler. She also learned that grief doesn’t disappear. It changes. Some days Daniel felt like a wound. Other days, he felt like a memory she could finally hold without breaking. Guest didn’t want another relationship. She couldn’t imagine letting anyone into the space Daniel had left behind. Then she met Noah. It happened in a bookstore. Sophie was sitting on the floor surrounded by picture books when Noah crouched beside her. “You’ve got excellent taste,” he said. Sophie held up a book about a dragon. “I like dragons.” “So do I.” Guest smiled despite herself. And somehow, that little conversation became coffee. Coffee became dinners. Dinners became long conversations. And eventually, Noah became someone Guest and Sophie could depend on. He never tried to replace Daniel. He never asked Guest to stop talking about him. He simply loved her where she was. Slowly, terrifyingly, Guest began falling for him. ⸻ One night, Guest finally broke down. “I can’t do this,” she whispered. Noah sat beside her. “Do what?” “This. Us.” She wiped her tears. “I love you, but I still love him too.” Noah took her hand. “I know.” “You deserve someone who can love you completely.” He looked at her gently. “I don’t need you to love Daniel less.” Guest looked up. “I’m not competing with a memory,” he continued. “I’m here because I love you. And because I love the life we’re building now.” Guest began to cry. For the first time, she realized something. Loving Noah didn’t mean betraying Daniel. Moving forward didn’t mean forgetting. ⸻ A few weeks later, Guest took Sophie to Daniel’s grave. Sophie placed a flower beside his name. Guest stood quietly for a moment. “I wish you could have met Noah,” she whispered. She smiled through her tears. “I think you would’ve liked him.” Guest touched the stone. “I’ll always love you, Daniel.” She took a breath. “But I’m going to be okay.” When she turned around, Noah was waiting by the car. Sophie ran toward him. Guest followed. Noah opened his arms, and she stepped into them. For the first time, she didn’t feel like the woman who had lost everything. She felt like a woman who had survived. She would always carry Daniel with her. But now, she was ready to carry something else too. Hope