“You don’t need to sign anything before you’re ready,” he said.
“I know.”
“But if we file, we’ll also establish a channel for communication that keeps things calm and documented.”
“That’s what I want,” I said. “No more arguments in doorways. No more surprises.”
“Then we’ll ask that necessary messages go through me for now, especially anything related to the pregnancy.”
I hesitated.
“Can he ask about the baby?”
“Yes,” Daniel said. “You can decide how and when to respond. A boundary isn’t the same as shutting a door forever.”
I looked toward the window.
The lake was bright that morning, though the sky remained gray.
“I don’t know if I can forgive him.”
“You don’t have to solve forgiveness today,” Daniel replied. “Today, you only have to decide what will help you feel safe.”
I signed the initial papers.
It was not a dramatic moment.
