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𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐄

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Sunshine leaned against the doorframe of Violet's room as she watched her sister sift through old photographs. "What's that?" she asked, breaking the silence.

Violet glanced up, briefly meeting Sunshine's eyes before looking back down at the scattered photos in her lap. "Some old pictures from the attic," she explained casually.

Sunshine moved from the doorway and settled beside her sister on the bed. Violet handed her a small stack of photographs, and Sunshine carefully sifted through them, her fingers brushing lightly against the faded edges. 

There were old images of the house when it was first built and then a family portrait—formal and stiff.

"That's Nora," Sunshine whispered.

Violet leaned over her shoulder, squinting at the image. "How did you know?" 

"She showed herself to me," Sunshine murmured. "She kept asking about her baby." A deep frown tugged at her lips, the encounter still fresh in her mind.

"Weird," Violet muttered under her breath.

"Can I come in?" Vivien's voice floated into the room, and both girls looked up to see her standing in the doorway, her hand resting on the gentle curve of her belly. Violet gave a nod, and their mother entered, closing the door softly behind her.

"So it looks like, uh... this guy's pretty serious about buying the house," Vivien began, her tone light but cautious. "I mean, we won't know officially until it's in escrow, but... I wanted to talk to you guys about it." She perched herself on the edge of the bed, her eyes flicking between her daughters.

Sunshine and Violet exchanged a worried glance. Violet couldn't leave, and they both knew it.

"What happens then?" Violet asked, her voice hesitant.

Vivien sighed. "Then I think... you, your sister, and I will go stay with your Aunt Jo until we find a place," 

Sunshine cringed inwardly at the thought. The last thing she wanted was to be pregnant and dealing with Aunt Jo.

"And what about Dad?" Violet asked.

"Well, Dad still has patients... I don't really know, sweetheart. We haven't figured it all out yet."

"So, this is really happening?" Sunshine asked, her voice quiet. "You guys are separating?"

"This wasn't the way it was supposed to go," Vivien admitted, her voice tinged with regret. "Your dad and I... we really loved each other."

"How'd you know you loved him when you first met?" Violet asked.

Vivien smiled softly, her eyes distant as if she were remembering a different time. "Well, he was... handsome and kind. But I don't know. The thing is, when you fall in love, it's kind of like you go crazy. Before you know it, the whole world looks different, and then you'll do anything for the other person."

Sunshine's mind drifted to Tate, her mother's words hitting too close to home. She couldn't bear the thought of leaving him behind, or her sister, for that matter. But could she really raise a baby in this house?

After a long pause, Vivien stood, smoothing down her shirt. "Well, goodnight, girls. I love you," 

"Love you." Sunshine whispered as her mother departed. 

Violet let out a long sigh, slumping against the headboard of her bed. "What am I going to do?" she groaned. "I can't leave. I don't even know how they haven't found out about school yet."

Sunshine leaned back. "I may or may not have replaced my number with Mom's on the school contact sheet," she admitted with a sheepish grin. "As long as you keep turning in schoolwork, I figured they wouldn't come around... but they'll find out eventually if this offer is serious."

Violet's phone buzzed, breaking the momentary silence. She glanced at it before silencing the notification with a sigh.

"Who was that?" Sunshine asked, her brow furrowing.

"Leah," Violet admitted, her voice tinged with sadness. "She's been wondering where I've been."

Sunshine's heart ached for her sister. Leah would never set foot in this house again, and Violet would never see her outside of it.

"I'm sorry, Vi." Sunshine whispered, placing a comforting hand on Violet's leg.

Violet didn't say anything, just nodded, her gaze distant. 

A sudden sensation rippled through Sunshine's stomach, startling her out of her thoughts. Her hand instinctively flew to her belly, her posture straightening as she gasped. "Whoa." 

Violet's eyes widened in alarm, her body jerking upright. "What? What is it? Are you okay?" 

A smile tugged at the corners of Sunshine's lips, the initial surprise giving way to wonder. She reached for Violet's hand, her fingers curling around her sister's as she guided it to her belly. "Feel,"

Violet hesitated, her hand hovering just above her sister's stomach before she gently pressed her palm against it. A few seconds passed in silence, but then—there it was. A small, unmistakable movement beneath her hand, as if the baby was nudging back. Her eyes widened. "Holy shit," she whispered, staring at Sunshine in disbelief, her mouth slightly agape.

Sunshine nodded, her eyes sparkling as she glanced down at her stomach. Her hand rested protectively over where the baby had kicked. 

There were no little hooves. No signs of anything unnatural. Maybe all her fears, all her anxiety about the baby being something other than human, were just that—fears.

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Sunshine yawned, rubbing her eyes as she navigated the darkened hallways of the house. It was the middle of the night, and the overwhelming need to pee had pulled her from sleep. The house was quiet, the kind of silence that felt too thick, like the air itself was watching. 

Halfway down the hall, a flicker of movement caught her eye—a small, red ball rolling toward her from the shadows. She froze as the ball bumped softly against her feet. 

Sunshine flicked on the light switch, illuminating the hallway with a dim glow. There was nothing. No child, no one playing—just the ball at her feet. She placed a hand on her growing stomach as she bent down to pick it up. 

The lights began to flicker wildly above her. Her panic mounting, she darted into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. She flipped the light switch, the overhead light buzzing to life. Leaning against the door, Sunshine closed her eyes, taking slow breaths to steady her racing heart. 

But when she finally opened her eyes, her heart dropped. There, sitting on the sink, was something she thought—no, hoped—she'd never see in her waking life. 

Something black and glossy.  A mask. 

Her hand flew to her mouth, her fingers pressing against her lips as a cold wave of dread washed over her. 

He wasn't real. He couldn't be real. 

Her body trembled as she took a step forward, every fiber of her being screaming to run the other way, but her legs felt heavy, like they were moving through water.

Inching closer, she reached out with a shaky hand. The rubber felt cold and slick beneath her fingers, and the contact sent a sickening feeling through her body. 

It wasn't a dream. It was never a dream.

She looked to the mirror, staring at her reflection, her eyes wide with the dawning horror. The truth she had buried, the truth she had denied for so long, had clawed its way to the surface. 

She hadn't been touched by some biblical force. It wasn't God or the devil. It was him. He had taken something from her that she could never get back. And now, holding this mask, that truth became undeniable.

She clutched the mask tightly to her chest as memories surged forward—his cold, rubber-clad hands forcing her down, his body pressing against hers, the way he had silenced her screams. 

Sunshine's tears spilled as she slowly backed away from the mirror, the mask still clutched in her chest. She stumbled out of the bathroom and back into the hallway, her vision blurred by tears. Her footsteps were slow, each step heavier than the last as she made her way back to her room. 

Once inside, she closed the door behind her, her breath ragged as panic clawed at her chest. Her hands shook as she opened her dresser drawer, stuffing the mask inside with a sense of urgency, as if hiding it could make it disappear completely.

But the tears wouldn't stop. They flowed freely, her chest heaving with sobs that she couldn't control. Sunshine collapsed onto the floor, her legs giving out beneath her as the weight of everything came crashing down. 

She fought to catch her breath, her hands gripping the floor, the panic swelling inside her until it felt like she couldn't breathe. She let out a desperate, anguished cry, feeling like her chest was caving in.

She felt hands on her shoulders, firm yet gentle. She jumped, falling backward, her tear-filled eyes snapping open. Tate was hunched over her, his face etched with concern.

"Sunshine, what's wrong?" Tate's voice was soft, but laced with worry as he knelt in front of her. He cupped her tear-streaked face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the tears as he searched her eyes for answers.

But Sunshine couldn't speak. The words were stuck in her throat, choked by her sobs. Instead, she reached up for him, needing his comfort more than anything. Tate wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as she buried her face in his chest.

He held her tightly, his hand rubbing soothing circles on her back, whispering soft reassurances into her hair. "It's okay, Sunshine. I've got you. I'm right here." His voice was calm, steady, the kind of voice that could ground her when everything else felt like it was spiraling out of control.

Sunshine's sobs gradually lessened, turning into exhausted sniffles and hiccups as she melted into Tate's embrace. Her face was blotchy and swollen, her eyes red and puffy, but she didn't care. She was just grateful to have him there with her. He didn't ask questions. He didn't push. He just held her, letting her cry until she had nothing left.

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