Their words stung, but I tried to ignore them. Darren defended us, but I saw how easily their negativity chipped away at his confidence. Still, I whispered to the tiny life inside me, “You are my hope.”

As the weeks passed, my body changed. So did the mood in the house. Norma started visiting unannounced, inspecting, criticizing. “You should save more.” “Darren can’t afford hospital bills on his salary.” Her tone wasn’t concern; it was control.