Echoes of the Silent Realm

Chapter 35: the reveal

**Chapter 35: The Reveal**

The living room buzzed with anticipation as family and close friends gathered for the gender reveal. Balloons floated lazily along the ceiling, pastel pinks and blues, and a large banner reading "Boy or Girl?" stretched across the wall. Plates of food lined the counter, and laughter filled the air as Kelsey and Jason moved around the room, greeting guests and checking in with the kids.

Aaly stood near the window, quietly watching as the celebration unfolded. She had a cup of punch in her hand, but she hadn't taken a sip. It all felt... strange. She had wanted a sister for so long, but now, standing here, surrounded by the excitement of a new baby, the emotions swirling inside her were more confusing than she'd expected.

Isaac was bouncing around the room, clearly unable to contain his excitement. He didn't care about the gender—he was just thrilled at the idea of a baby joining the family. Luke, on the other hand, sat on the edge of the couch, one leg bouncing nervously as he stared at the cake that was supposed to reveal the baby's gender in just a few moments. His expression was unreadable.

Aaly caught her reflection in the window and stared at herself for a moment, trying to figure out what she was feeling. A sister. A girl. That's what she'd always wanted, hadn't it? Someone to share secrets with, someone to understand her in ways Isaac and Luke never could. But now, with Jason in the picture and this baby being *his*, not her dad's, everything felt different. This wasn't her *real* sister, and no matter how much everyone said they were a family, deep down Aaly felt the cracks in that unity.

Kelsey clapped her hands together, calling everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone! It's time for the big moment!"

Jason stood beside her, beaming with excitement, and held a knife in his hand. They were about to cut the cake—inside, pink or blue icing would reveal if the baby was a boy or a girl. Isaac rushed to Kelsey's side, nearly jumping out of his skin with anticipation, while Luke stood up from the couch, hands stuffed in his pockets, his expression still guarded.

Aaly felt her stomach twist as she slowly moved toward the table. She tried to smile, tried to join in on the excitement, but her heart wasn't in it. It was hard to explain, even to herself. The idea of having a baby sister felt right in theory, but this wasn't the sister she had always imagined. This baby would belong to Jason as much as it did to her mom, and something about that left her feeling disconnected, like an outsider in her own family.

"Ready?" Kelsey asked, her voice filled with joy as she glanced around the room. She locked eyes with Aaly, giving her a soft, reassuring smile. Aaly tried to smile back, but it felt forced, and she quickly looked away.

"Alright, let's find out!" Jason said, plunging the knife into the cake. The room fell silent as he sliced through the layers, revealing a swirl of bright pink icing.

"It's a girl!" Kelsey announced, her face lighting up with happiness.

The room erupted into cheers and applause. Isaac practically jumped into the air, his face lit with excitement. "A sister! I'm getting a sister!"

Jason wrapped an arm around Kelsey, kissing her on the forehead as they soaked in the congratulations from friends and family. "A girl," he murmured, his eyes shining as he met Kelsey's gaze. "I can't believe it."

Luke gave a small smile, but Aaly could see the same hesitation in his eyes that she felt. He clapped along with the rest of the crowd, but it was half-hearted, almost distracted.

Aaly forced herself to clap, too, but her hands felt heavy, and her chest tightened. A girl. Just like she had always wanted, right? But why didn't it feel that way? Why did it feel like something was missing?