Chapter 12 - Rebuilding UsWith the toxic weight lifted, the atmosphere in our apartment shifted entirely. The heavy, anxious air was replaced by warmth and anticipation.
I took two weeks of unpaid leave. We couldn't afford it, but we couldn't afford for me to be absent anymore, either. I spent every day proving to Rebecca that I was there. I cooked her meals, washed her clothes, and rubbed her swollen feet. We spent hours sitting in the freshly cleaned nursery, talking about the future.
One night, sitting in the rocking chair while Rebecca rested on the rug, she looked up at me.
"I really thought I was losing my mind," she admitted softly. "When they were here, they made me feel like I was crazy for wanting to rest. Like I was a burden."
I got down on the floor beside her. "You were never the burden. I was blind, and I am so sorry I left you alone in the dark."
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She reached out and took my hand. "You're here now. That's what matters."
In those quiet weeks, we didn't just rebuild our home; we rebuilt our marriage. We learned how to communicate without fear, establishing that in our family, honesty would never be met with punishment.
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