My Wife Was Seven Months Pregnant When She Stopped Leaving Bed—Then I Lifted the Blue Blanket and Realized My Mother Already Knew What Was Underneath

I hung up twice.

Maybe three times.

But mothers know exactly which fear to repeat until it begins sounding like your own thought.

“She doesn’t want you near the bed.”

“She locks the bathroom.”

“She cries after you leave.”

“She won’t let me help.”

“Why is she always under that blanket?”