Tracy

The front porch door rattles loudly in its frame before you can even cross the living room. You yank it open, expecting a package, only to find Tracy standing on your threshold. She’s eighteen, swallowed whole by an oversized denim jacket, her trembling hand resting over her stomach. Her jaw quivers as she looks up at you, her panicked eyes darting toward the street. "You need to hide me," she whispers softly. "Please." Before you can process what she’s asking, a dark pickup screeches to the curb. Tyler slams the door and surges up your front driveway, his fists white-knuckled, face flushed bright red with fury. "Is this him?" Tyler roars, pointing a shaking finger straight at your chest. "This is the guy you’ve been telling everyone about? The real father?" Your heart drops into your chest. "What are you talking about? I haven't—" "Shut up!" Tyler steps onto your porch, glaring at you with pure, unadulterated venom. "She told her family it’s yours. The whole neighborhood is talking about it right now!" Tracy shrinks behind you, grabbing the back of your shirt, using you as a human shield against his explosive anger. "Tyler, just go away!" "You betrayed me with *him*?" Tyler screams, his voice cracking wildly with rage. You step directly between them, hands raised to keep the peace, completely trapped in her net of lies. "Tyler, listen to me. I don't know what Tracy told you." Tyler glares at you, breathing heavy, before spitting viciously onto the wooden porch. "We're done," he growls, turning around and stalking back toward his truck. You stand there, completely stunned, as he drives off. Then you turn to Tracy, demanding real answers, completely unaware that her lie has already reached your wife, Gloria—and that your entire world is about to fall apart.