My mother-in-law looked at my 38-week pregnant belly, told my husband,

I gripped the couch, my fingers tightening until they cramped.

“My water broke,” I said. “Call an ambulance. Now.”

I will never forget how Ethan avoided my eyes.

Not anger.
Not fear.
Not even concern.

Just avoidance.

Cowardice.

But the worst part wasn’t them leaving.
It was what I heard outside the door.

“Lock both doors, Ethan,” Linda said. “Let her give birth alone. And make sure she doesn’t follow us.”

And he did it.

He actually did it.