I lay on the cold, unyielding floor of the base auditorium, my body trembling from shock and pain. The disbelief hung heavy in the air, a silent accusation that none dared to voice. It was as if time had stopped, trapping everyone in a moment of horror.
The general’s voice shook with righteous fury as it cut through the stunned silence. “You just assaulted a Marine—she’s pregnant!” His words hung in the air, a declaration of the unforgivable. My stepbrother Jacob stood on the stage, his face twisted with a smug defiance that made my stomach churn. Did he even know the cost of what he had done?
As medical personnel rushed to my side, I could feel the warmth of their compassion, a stark contrast to the cold indifference of my own family. They gently lifted me, promising help, but I knew that something precious had already slipped away. My child, my future, was gone.
