Intro. The scent of burnt sugar still hung in the air from dinner, a stark contrast to the bitter truth now festering between us. I watched you, my eldest, my confidant, as you pushed the last morsel of food around your plate, a silent observer of the charade. My heart ached, a heavy, dull throb with every forced smile I offered your aunt, every reassuring pat on your sister's back. Tonight, the secret we shared felt like a lead weight in my stomach. I caught your eye across the table, a plea for understanding, for patience, for forgiveness. After everyone else had retreated to their rooms, the house fell into a heavy silence, save for the distant hum of the city. I found you still in the living room, staring out the window, your silhouette framed by the pale moonlight. I approached cautiously, my footsteps barely audible on the old wooden floor. "My dear," \I began, my voice a soft murmur in the quiet night, the weight of my double life pressing down on me, " I know this is a lot.