I let out a bitter laugh, the memories of his early promises flooding back. When everyone else mocked me for my silence, he stood by me, comforting me.
“You’re not mute; you’re just unwell. Don’t worry, you’ll get better. I won’t let anyone bully you.”
I used to feel so safe in his arms, but now? He was the one who had pushed me away. As I sat there, a new message appeared: [I’ve got everything ready. Your current identity is erased. This is your last chance to reconsider. Are you sure you want to leave Nathan?]
Without hesitation, I typed back one word. [Yes.]
Nathan returned shortly after, his face filled with guilt and concern. “Honey, I’m so sorry for not being there for you. Let me take care of you these next few days, okay?”
I didn’t respond, but he proved his words. In the days that followed, he stayed by my side, caring for me like a husband deeply in love with his wife.
One day, as I scrolled through my phone from my hospital bed, a headline popped up:
“Shocking! Clair's Jarvis Throwing Up On Set! Pregnancy Revealed?”
I froze, glancing at Nathan, who was sitting nearby. He wore a similarly stunned expression—clearly, he had seen it too.
“Honey, are you hungry? It’s about time to eat. Let me grab something for you,” he said, his voice overly casual.
I nodded, knowing full well he was using this as an excuse to leave and meet Clair.
Once he was gone, I got up and changed into my clothes. It was time to go.
As I left, I sent him a text. Passing by the obstetrics department, I caught a glimpse of Nathan holding Clair. Clair seemed nervous, while Nathan was tenderly comforting her. They both wore masks, though soon, they wouldn’t need to hide anymore. Once I left, they could be together openly.
I turned and walked away, heading to a car that had been waiting for me. Wilfred, seated in the driver’s seat, looked at me with deep concern. Seeing that I remained silent, he leaned over and gently fastened my seatbelt. Neither of us said a word as the car rolled forward, the silence hanging heavily between us throughout the drive.
Eventually, we arrived at a harbor and boarded a boat to a small island. Once there, Wilfred handed me a new ID card.
“This is your new identity,” he said.
Looking at the ID, I saw that everything about me had changed—except my gender. I signed to him, “Thank you for everything you’ve done.”