Inside the bedroom, Micah was on the phone with his mother, tension tightening his throat. His hand trembled around the device. He had laid everything bare, admitting the guilt he carried toward Darcy.
Elina sighed loudly, her voice trembling. "I can't understand… You are as important as him. Why are you doing this? Please, Micah…. I put up with everything you've done recently because I wanted to ease your mind. But I can't anymore… this is too much. Don't you care about me? About your family?"
Micah's knees weakened, and he slowly slid down the wall until he was sitting on the floor, back curved, phone pressed against his ear. His eyes turned red, and tears gathered in them as the accusation stung his chest. "I'm doing it because I care. I don't want to lose you. But a big happy family… it needs sacrifice, doesn't it? Haven't you done this too, Mum? Dad had told me about it…"
"That was different!" Elina cried. "I did it because I loved your father. I wanted to be with him."
