DEBORAH'S POV
I finally mustered the courage to leave my room when I saw my father's car pulling out of Victoria's driveway early that morning. My heart was heavy as I made my way to the living room, where I found my cousin busy in the kitchen, her daughter running circles around her legs.
The aroma of spices filled the air, but it did nothing to ease the knot in my stomach. Victoria's knife rhythmically tapped against the cutting board as she chopped vegetables. I watched her for a moment, envying the normalcy of her morning routine.
"I'm scared," I blurted out, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to go through with the abortion."
Victoria's hand stilled, the knife suspended mid-air. She turned to face me, her eyes filled with a mixture of pity and resignation. "You have no choice now, Deb. That's what Uncle wants, and you just obey."
