Unaltered Voices

  The water was calm, and so was I. There’s something about being submerged just me, the steady sound of my breath, and the gentle sway of the water that allows my mind to slow down. Swimming has always been my sanctuary, a place where clarity seems to find me. That day, clarity came in the form of a download I didn’t expect. It wasn’t something I thought applied to me, but I couldn’t shake it. The thought was simple, yet heavy: Some women want to have a man’s child because of how he loves his children. Not out of love for him, but because seeing him nurture his kids awakens something deep within them, the ache of a little girl who never felt cherished by her father. When I sat with that thought, it unraveled something profound. For some women, bearing his child isn’t just about starting a family. It’s about birthing the inner child she’s been carrying, hoping that in raising his baby, she’ll finally receive the love she’s always craved. It’s not strange when you really think abou...