FLASHBACK, 22 YEARS AGOThe basement apartment was dim and cramped. Water stains marked the low ceiling, and the single window near the top of the wall barely let in any light. The walls were cracked and peeling, and there was a damp smell that never quite went away, no matter how much Jessica cleaned.The small space served as a bedroom, living room, and kitchen all at once. A tiny crib sat in the corner, waiting for the baby that would arrive in two months. Jessica had spent weeks knitting little blankets and shawls, soft pink and blue ones, just in case.Twenty-year-old Jessica, seven months pregnant, was sleeping peacefully on the bed. Her long, curly hair was spread across the pillow, one hand resting protectively on her swollen belly. She looked so young, so innocent, and so full of hope despite everything. Beside her, three-year-old Derick slept curled up against his mother, his little hand clutching her shirt. His face was peaceful, completely unaware of what was about to happ
Last Updated : 2026-02-04 Read more