But something inside me twisted.
Then one afternoon, both boys finally fell asleep at the same time.
I tiptoed down the hallway, desperate for a moment to breathe.
As I passed Joshua’s office, I heard his voice—low, strained.
“I can’t keep lying to her. She thinks I wanted a family with her…”
My hand flew to my mouth.
He was talking about me.
I leaned closer, my heart pounding.
“But I didn’t adopt the boys because of this,” Joshua said, his voice breaking.
Silence followed—then a quiet, painful sob.
I froze.
“I can’t do this, Dr. Samson,” he continued softly. “I can’t watch her figure it out after I’m gone. She deserves more than that. But if I tell her… she’ll fall apart. She gave up her whole life for this. I just… I just wanted to know she wouldn’t be alone.”
My legs went numb.
Joshua was crying openly now.
“How long did you say, Doc?”
