Ethan had departed early, leaving behind a deathly silence that seemed to devour the very walls of the house. Helen remained seated by the window, staring into the emptiness of the street. her mind was a whirlwind of guilt and desperation.
"How can I be so selfish?" she asked herself, tears carving tracks through the dust on her cheeks. "To let my son breathe fresh air, I have to let his father rot in the dark. I am abandoning him... I am killing him while he still breathes."
She felt the weight of a debt that couldn't be paid with currency. She looked at her hands and then at her reflection in the glass. Etienne had done everything. He had moved mountains, faced the system, and provided a roof over her head. In her heart, Helen had already accepted the price. If Etienne asked, she would not refuse. She would surrender her body, her will, and whatever remained of her soul; after such generosity, saying "no" felt like the ultimate betrayal.
