17 years earlier
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“You have to promise me,” she whispers, once she’s finally calmed down enough to speak.
“Of course, my love—everything, everything you want,” replies the tall young man with a big bush of curly hair, gazing lovingly at the long streaks of mascara running down her cheeks. “What do you want me to do?”
“She must never know.” Despite his promise, the man looks startled.
“You can’t ask me that! We’ve only just found out—you can’t even be sure if it’s a girl...” Quietly, she presses her fingers to his lips. He falls silent, though his expression remains shaken.
“She can never know,” she repeats firmly. “She must believe the story you tell her. There’s no other way to keep her safe. You do understand, don’t you?”
Slowly, he shakes his head.
“How can you even be sure it will be a girl? How can you be sure of anything?” he asks, his voice growing defiant. “I just learned a few weeks ago that I’m going to be a father, and already you’re asking me to lie to her? Even before she’s born?”
The woman looks at him. Her eyes remain sad, but her voice gains determination. The tears on her face dry unnaturally fast.
“It’s the only way. There’s too much at stake.”
“No, this isn’t something you can ask of me. It’s my life too. Let others risk theirs—I didn’t want this... I...” His voice falters. “No, I won’t do it,” he continues softly, meeting her gaze in a silent challenge.
She stares back, unblinking but her voice is unexpectedly tender, almost caring, as she whispers,
“Then there’s no other option, darling. I’ll have to do this without you.”
Without another word, she turns and heads for the kitchen door. He springs up from his chair, wanting to stop her. She can’t leave. She must stay. But with a casual flick of her wrist, the kettle filled with water flies off the stove and strikes him hard on the back of his head. His legs give way beneath him. He struggles against the pull of unconsciousness, still trying to follow her, but his body refuses to obey. Twenty minutes later, when he opens his eyes, she’s already gone.