so fragile. It’s Christmas, and everyone wants to take beautiful family pictures.”

I felt the warmth leave my face.

Before I could respond, my mother continued.

“Honestly, with how small she is, she looks more like a doll than a real baby. If you hadn’t told everyone she was eight months old, people might think something was wrong with her.”

The room went quiet.

Not completely.

The Christmas music continued playing.

A child laughed in the hallway.

Someone in the kitchen moved a serving dish.

But the people standing nearest