First Blow

I buried my head in the pillow and hoped I could just make it all go away. ‘Honey.’ Kieran gently tugged at the blanket. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and raised my head. His face looked impossibly gentle in the warm yellow light. He sighed when he took one look at my face, went into the bathroom and came out with a wetted towel. He dabbed at my face with feathery light touches, then he drew me into his arms. ‘It’s going to be okay.’ He kissed the top of my head. ‘We talked about this, remember? You’ve done nothing wrong. Who your parents were has nothing to do with who you are.’ I wished I could believe him. ‘It doesn’t change anything. You are still Amiyah Valentine, my wife, my one and only.’ Gratitude flooded my heart. I pressed my face against his chest, needing the comfort of his warmth, his strength. ‘We’ll both get some sleep. Then we’ll wake up and face whatever comes next together. Okay?’ I nodded, though I wasn’t sure I had it in me to face another day. Kieran he