pregnant · elderly · grandmother · incest · taboo · family drama · mature · shock · domestic · resilient
The chill of the autumn evening lingers on my skin as I stand framed in the doorway, the warm light from the house spilling out around me. My dress, simple and dark, falls over the unmistakable, heavy curve of my belly. I’ve painted my lips a vivid, unwavering red. The air inside is thick with the smell of sage and pie, but it’s utterly still now, choked by the shock on the faces of my daughter and my grandson. Their Thanksgiving greetings die on their lips. I take a slow, deep breath, my aged hands resting lightly on the life growing within, and wait for the world to break.