At 25 weeks pregnant with her first child, Elena had imagined a quiet Fourth of July at home with her husband, watching fireworks from the porch and talking about baby names. When her mother-in-law suggested the parade might be “too loud” and encouraged her to rest instead, Elena didn’t argue. She had been dealing with migraines, and a calm day sounded sensible. Still, when her husband decided to attend the celebration with his parents and grandfather without her, she felt a small, unspoken ache. She told herself it was hormones, smiled, and wished him a good time.
Later that afternoon, as she rinsed dishes, the kitchen faucet suddenly burst apart with a loud pop, sending water spraying across the counters and floor. Startled and overwhelmed, Elena grabbed her phone and FaceTimed her husband. He was usually the calm one in moments like this, the fixer, the steady voice. He didn’t answer the first time. Or the second. By the time he finally picked up, he looked flushed and slightly out of breath. “I’m with Grandpa, babe. I can’t really talk. Call a plumber, okay?” he said quickly. Before she could respond, the screen glitched. He must have thought the call had ended—but it hadn’t.