I stopped looking forward to anything.
Every milestone somehow became about her.
When we scheduled our gender reveal, I quietly prayed.
Please…
Just let me have one day.
One day that belongs to our little family.
I should have known better.
The Day My Happiness Was Stolen
The backyard sparkled with pink and blue decorations.
Friends laughed.
Children chased bubbles across the lawn.
For the first time in months, I felt peaceful.
Daniel wrapped an arm around me.
“Ready?”
I nodded.
Together we popped the giant black balloon.
A cloud of bright pink confetti exploded into the air.
“It’s a girl!”
I burst into tears.
Daniel kissed my forehead.
Everyone cheered.
For perhaps five beautiful seconds…
Everything was perfect.
Then I heard glass tapping.
Angela stood in the center of the yard holding a champagne flute.
“I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT!”
The cheers faded.
She smiled dramatically.
“I’m pregnant too!”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
One cousin laughed awkwardly, assuming it was a joke.
Nobody else moved.
Then Angela placed both hands over her stomach and beamed.
“I guess our babies will grow up together!”
My tears hadn’t even dried.
People slowly drifted toward her.
Questions.
Congratulations.
Confusion.
My daughter had existed as the center of attention for less than one minute.
I quietly walked inside.
Daniel found me crying in the bathroom.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“I didn’t know she’d do that.”
Neither did I.
But somehow…
I wasn’t surprised.
Something Didn’t Add Up
Over the following weeks, Angela became obsessed with her “pregnancy.”
She posted daily updates online.
Baby bump photos.
Morning sickness stories.
Shopping trips.
People congratulated her everywhere she went.
Yet something felt… wrong.
She never mentioned doctor’s appointments.
She changed due dates.
Her stomach looked different depending on the clothes she wore.
One afternoon, I stopped at the mall after buying baby clothes.
As I walked past a costume shop, something caught my eye.
Angela.
She stood near a display filled with theatrical makeup.
The cashier handed her a large beige package.
Curious, I stepped closer without being seen.
The package read:
Realistic Silicone Pregnancy Belly.
My heart stopped.
