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She nods. “Our son wasn't supposed to survive.”

I stare at her.

“I changed his fate. I saved our pup, and I knew there would be a sacrifice.”

My hands fall from hers. “You knew?”

“I knew it would be my life.”

The world around us disappears.

“You fucking knew?”

“I didn't know when. I didn't know how.”

I step away from her. Every chore. Every time she made me do something she could have done faster herself.

“You knew.”

Tears slide down her cheeks. “Yes.”

“That's why.”

She says nothing.

“The laundry. The meals. Baths. Homework.” My chest tightens. “Darlene's hair.”

A memory slams into me.

Arlene standing behind me in the bathroom, laughing while Darlene sits between my knees.

You're pulling too hard.

I'm barely touching it.

Tell that to her forehead.

Darlene giggling while I glare at both of them.

Another memory.

Arian screaming in my arms.

Stop bouncing him like you're marching into battle.

I'm not.

Darian, his entire head is moving.

Then you do it.

Nope. Figure out what your son wants.

I close my eyes. “You were teaching me.”

“I was preparing you.”

“For when you died.”