"I was young," she said, her voice raw with pain. "I was scared. Your father and Jessica loved each other and I was just a surrogate for them... And I thought... I thought you would have a better life without me."
Bella's eyes glistened. "But you left me," she said, her voice filled with grievance.
Miss J's sobs grew louder. "I know. I know and I will never forgive myself for that. I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought you would be safe with a family, with a home.. I didn't know—I didn't know she would..."
Bella shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her heart filled with confusion, with pain, with a love she didn't know how to feel.
"I don't understand," she whispered. "Why now? Why did you wait so long?"
Miss J's voice broke. "I was scared, Bella. I was scared of how you would react. I was scared you would hate me. I was scared I would lose you completely."
She paused, her eyes filled with desperate love.
