One afternoon, after everything had calmed down and their home had returned to its usual warmth, Chen Ke finally let go of the act she'd been putting on for days. Her family was back to their usual routines, and even though the stress from the past week still hung in the air, the smiles had returned. Zhen was once again her cheerful self, running around with Mochi, and even Happy's absence seemed to be less painful, though it would always leave a small space in their hearts.
That evening, as the house grew quiet, the two mothers settled into their bed. Zhen had fallen asleep in her crib, and the soft rhythm of her breathing filled the room. It was one of those rare moments when the world felt still, when it seemed like everything was perfectly in place. Danni, still exhausted from the day but content, lay beside Chen Ke, resting her head on her shoulder.
Ke Ke gently ran her fingers through Danni's hair, the quiet of the room allowing her thoughts to drift. She wanted to say something—something that had been on her mind, something that felt like an open question in her heart. But her timing was off, and she hadn't realized how the weight of it would land.
"I've been thinking..." Chen Ke began softly, her voice carrying the weight of an unspoken thought. "What if... what if we had another baby? Like, a little brother or sister for Zhen?"
Danni froze, her eyes slowly turning to meet Ke Ke's. The question was innocent enough, but it hit her in a way Chen Ke hadn't expected. The room, which had been filled with such a peaceful energy only moments ago, suddenly felt heavy.
"Ke Ke... what are you asking?" Danni's voice was shaky, her emotions already rising at the thought.
Chen Ke shifted, not realizing the gravity of what she'd just said. "I mean... we have our family, but I thought... maybe another baby, to complete it? To make everything even more... perfect."
Danni's heart thudded in her chest. She stared at Ke Ke, the question ringing in her mind as a painful reminder of the weight she had been carrying. The thoughts of losing Happy, the struggles of managing everything, the emotional rollercoaster they had been on—it all bubbled to the surface.
Her eyes filled with tears as she pushed herself away from Ke Ke, her voice cracking. "You want another baby? You think that's the answer, Ke Ke?" she asked, her emotions spilling out. "I'm barely keeping it together with Zhen, with everything that's happened. You're talking about another child like it's just an easy decision, like we don't already have so much on our plate. How could you even ask me that now?"
Ke Ke's heart sank as she saw the anger and hurt in Danni's eyes. She hadn't meant to cause her pain. She reached out instinctively, but Danni pulled away, her emotions too raw to handle the touch.
"I didn't mean to upset you," Chen Ke said quietly, her voice tinged with guilt. "I thought it might be something we could... think about. But I didn't realize... I'm sorry. I didn't understand how it might make you feel."
Danni wiped at her eyes, struggling to keep her voice steady. "You've been pushing yourself so hard, Ke Ke. And now you're asking for something else, something that feels like another burden. I've been carrying so much lately, and it's like you don't see that. You don't see how hard it's been for me, for us."
Chen Ke sat up, her own tears brimming as she realized the weight of her words. "I didn't see it. I'm sorry, Danni. I didn't think."
Danni's chest tightened, and she finally let herself cry. "I want to be the best mom for Zhen, for you, for our family. But I'm not perfect. I'm struggling, Ke Ke. I'm so scared sometimes, scared of what we might have lost, scared of everything changing. I'm not sure I can handle more right now. I don't know if I can give you what you're asking for."
