But the unknown arrived anyway. Her boyfriend vanished the moment she told him about the pregnancy. Her job at the diner barely covered rent. Even with extra shifts, she was living off instant noodles, watching her stomach grow rounder while cupboards grew barer. The future loomed like a shadow.
God, the thought of it cut like a knife. She visited food banks, bargained with the landlord, and sold what little she had. But newborns need more than just love—they need everything and a little more. Mara, at nineteen, was quickly running out of everything. The decision she swore she’d never make began to stalk her.