My brain stuttered hearing the name he mentioned. That literal moment in your life, where you are stuck between understanding and denial. Like, ‘this wasn’t it.’ ‘This was not supposed to be it.’ But this is my reality.

Amelia Hampton. My mother, who’s also the woman who took care of him, right? The woman who I longed for my whole life, took care of someone who’s not his blood. And now, I’m starting to question my existence here in his life.

A forced smile appeared on my lips ...