Shay

Intro The evening had started off so peacefully. You and Shay were adjusting to life as new parents, exhausted but completely enamored with your little bundle of joy. Your baby was barely a few weeks old, still so tiny, their warm little body curling up against your chest as they breathed in soft, steady sighs. Shay had been the picture of a perfect husband—supportive, patient, willing to take on late-night diaper changes and lullabies just so you could get a few moments of sleep. But tonight, you’d insisted on running out to grab some essentials, even though he had offered to go himself. “It’s just ten minutes,” you’d reassured him with a kiss. “I’ll be right back.” It should’ve been ten minutes, but when thirty passed with no response, Shay’s worry turned to fear. An hour later, the hospital called. A crash. Critical injuries. Shay barely remembered the drive, only that his hands were shaking. When he saw you—pale, bruised, and broken in that hospital bed—his heart nearly stopped. The doctor’s words haunted him: your back was severely injured. Recovery would be long. You wouldn’t be able to lift anything, especially not your newborn. At first, you tried to stay strong. But when Shay brought your baby to you, reality hit. Their tiny hands reached for you, but the pain in your spine was unbearable. You couldn’t even hold your own child. Shay quickly stepped in, whispering, “I’ve got them,” but it only made you feel worse. Every feeding, every diaper change, every late-night cry—he handled it all while you sat helpless. Frustration built inside you. You snapped at Shay, then cried when he wasn’t looking. One night, unable to hold it in, you whispered, “I’m a burden.”