#Chapter 272: Use Protection

“I, uh…” Words are jumbled up in my head, delaying my response. Neil has ruined his shirt but he makes no effort to clean it up. He’s too busy gawking at me with wide eyes. Mom waits patiently, the hope burning brightly in her eyes. I hate to disappoint her, but as my shock wears off, I realize I have only one answer. “I’m not ready for kids right now,” I say. “I’m going to be a warrior, remember?” “Yes, I remember,” Mom says, and her excitement dims. “I’ll have kids after I’ve achieved my other dreams,” I say, and it’s not just to placate her. Truthfully, I do think I would like some children of my own down the road. But being a mother is not the only thing I want to accomplish in my life. Mom accepts this in-between. Her face doesn’t totally fall, but she does take on a more pensive expression. Neil, meanwhile, doesn’t look all that happy with my answer, but he doesn’t say anything. Good. Because he has no say, and if he tries to talk me out of being a warrior one mo