Locked Out in the Cold While Six Months Pregnant

“Ryan!”

My voice cracked.

“Ryan!”

Inside, the dining room lights blurred through tears. I could see people moving around, laughing, carrying dishes. Nobody looked toward the balcony.

Nobody noticed.

I hit the glass again and again until my hands burned.

Then went numb.

The cold seemed to crawl through my clothes and settle deep inside my bones.

I don’t know how long I stood there.

Ten minutes.