I Raised My Late Sister’s Five Children Alone—On Her Son’s 18th Birthday, He Handed Me Something I Never Expected.

My voice cracked.

“They are not losing each other too.”

Grant slowly stood.

“Elena.”

“I mean it.”

“So do I.”

He dragged both hands across his face.

“We live in a two-bedroom apartment.”

“We’ll figure it out.”

“You’re still in school.”

“I know.”

“I married you because we were building our own life.”

“We still can.”

“No.”

Grant stared at me.

“What you’re describing is becoming the mother of five children overnight.”

“They already have a mother.”

I could barely get the sentence out.

“They just don’t have her anymore.”

Grant closed his eyes.

When he opened them, something in his expression had changed.

“I want to live my life, Elena.”

I said nothing.

“I’m not ready to become a father to five kids overnight.”

He walked into our bedroom.

Then I heard drawers opening.

For several minutes, neither of us spoke.

Finally, Grant zipped his suitcase.

He looked at me.

“I wanted a wife.”

His voice was quiet.

“Not a woman struggling to raise five orphaned children.”