The Secret I Thought Would Protect Her
Mara and I had gone through two pregnancy losses before the twins.
Each time, I watched a little of the light go out of her eyes. She tried to stay strong, but I knew how scared she’d become. When she got pregnant again, neither of us let ourselves celebrate too soon.
Then the months passed.
The babies kept growing.
For the first time, hope started to feel safe.
When I was injured during my final assignment, I made a decision I believed was an act of love.
I didn’t tell her.
Mara was still pregnant, and I was terrified the shock might hurt her or the babies. I told myself there’d be time to explain once the girls arrived safely.
I told only one person.
Mark.
My closest friend since we were twelve. We’d grown up on the same street, eaten dinner at each other’s houses, stood beside each other through nearly every major moment of our lives.
When I called him about my leg, his voice broke.
“You’re going to have to be strong now,” he said. “But you’ve always been stronger than you realize.”
I believed him completely.
That was my mistake.
