BAHAGYANG kumunot ang noo ko sa nakitang marka sa ibaba ng pusod ni Jessie. "Is that a-"
"Lucas!" she called as she held my face up to her.
Nawala ang atensiyon ko sa katawan niya. I gazed at her and saw the fear and anxiety drawn all over her face. Right there I knew that she wanted to back down. Umiling ako.
"No, Jessie. There's no pulling back. I said what I said. I will work hard tonight to put a baby in your womb."
She was silenced for a moment. Bahagyang nabawasan ang pangamba sa imahe niya at nabantuan ng ibang emosyon. "To replace your lost child? Nonsense, Lucas. Ano bang tingin mo sa nawalang anak natin? Gamit na pwedeng palitan ng panibago?"
"No," I replied in a lower voice. "Dahil kahit ilang dosenang anak pa ang mabuo nating dalawa, hindi mapapalitan ang panganay ko. But
