Challenge Corner discussion

Mariam is only fifteen when she is sent to Kabul to marry the troubled and bitter Rasheed, who is thirty years her senior. Nearly two decades later, in a climate of growing unrest, tragedy strikes fifteen-year-old Laila, who must leave her home and join Mariam's unhappy household. Laila and Mariam are to find consolation in each other, their friendship to grow as deep as the bond between sisters, as strong as the ties between mother and daughter.

With the passing of time comes Taliban rule over Afghanistan, the streets of Kabul loud with the sound of gunfire and bombs, life a desperate struggle against starvation, brutality and fear, the women's endurance tested beyond their worst imaginings. Yet love can move people to act in unexpected ways, lead them to overcome the most daunting obstacles with a startling heroism. In the end it is love that triumphs over death and destruction.

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a portrait of a wounded country and a story of family and friendship, of an unforgiving time, an unlikely bond, and an indestructible love.

hi! just checking in :)

whenever you want to start go ahead, I will try to start on Friday :)
And feel free to update as much as you want, some books make us want to update a million time and we have full on discussions, others are thoughts and updates every 10 or so chapters

Do you know how to put spoiler tags on GR?

Grace wrote: "whenever you want to start go ahead, I will try to start on Friday :)
And feel free to update as much as you want, some books make us want to update a million time and we have full on discussions, ..."

got it, thank you for explaining everything haha I really appreciate it! I just took a look at some previous buddy reads to get a feel for what discussions look like.

& I just googled how to do the spoiler tag, thank you :)

awesome!! and anytime, please ask away we're here to share :)

can I join in with the buddy read?

of course!!

First Section ~20%

I don't know what I was expecting with this book. I joined because I remember it being popular when it came out and my coworker raves about it, she even named her daughter after Laila Jo.

Right from the start you are thrust into her world with all the emotion that come with that. It's very well written and I want to know more.

(view spoiler)[
I know that parents, especially single parents, can have mental illnesses. But it's hard to read the scenes with her Nana and then making the realization that this is life for some children. Her being forced to live with Jalil right after he rejected her made me feel so bad for Mariam.

The fact that Mariam didn't want to leave her room but then the wives wanted her downstairs to tell her about the arranged marriage, at which point they then locked her in the room. That moment was upsetting.

So far Rasheed doesn't seem too bad, but I'm waiting for the hat to drop.

He can be blunt at times and old-fashioned, but him telling her that she's not allowed to cry broke my heart for her.
(hide spoiler)]

I'm nervous to see where this story goes.

I'll be starting it tonight :)

awesome! I made a small detour with Part of your world because I needed a fun light read between my books, so I will likely join tomorrow or Sunday

That’s a good idea bc I just got to the end of chapter five and it’s very heavy. I actually had to stop and take a break. I'll write out my thoughts and feelings in more detail here tomorrow.

Kala wrote: "First Section ~20%

I don't know what I was expecting with this book. I joined because I remember it being popular when it came out and my coworker raves about it, she even named her daughter after..."

What page were you on when you wrote this? Trying to see if I've read to that point yet so I can read your spoiler and respond :)

Generally put which chapter you just finished before you write your thoughts so it's easier for us to know when to open the spoilers since pages might be difficerent sometimes with editions

@Amanda yeah I expect this to be heavy and my beta read was an intense one for me where I had to focus a lot because of the feedback I was giving
so I knew a light read would be a must in between

I'm listening to the audio book and they have it broke down into 5 parts, which when I looked online the book is broken down into 4 parts so im not entirely sure where I am in the book.

I think they they may have produced the audiobook more as an oral history. I can see if I can borrow the book from the library later to match up where I am with the actual chapters.

Chap 1-5 Reflections:

Wow, my heart 😭 so many emotions just in the first 5 chapters I don’t even know where to begin.

(view spoiler)[Starting at the very beginning of chapter one, where Mariam’s mom (nana) calls her a harami for dropping a piece of her tea set, you are already told so much about the inner worlds of both Mariam and Nana; as well as their dynamic with each other.

Nana is angry at the world. I can understand where her pain and anger is coming from, even though her lack of accountability in any part of the situation is frustrating. The book hasn’t said much about her upbringing, but I have to remind myself that she was likely just very naive or didn’t know better? To think that a married rich man that she works as a maid for would treat her and their daughter equally as his wives and their children. Nonetheless, I do feel for her in ways. She has never been wanted and that’s heartbreaking.


However, Nana projects all of her own shame and unresolved resentment onto Mariam, displacing her anger at Jalil and the world onto her daughter.

Nana’s behavior toward Mariam is largely harsh, resentful, and emotionally manipulative. She constantly reminds Mariam of her illegitimacy, calling her a harami (bastard), and frames Mariam’s existence as the cause of her own suffering. She often belittles Mariam’s hopes and dreams, especially when Mariam expresses a desire to go to school or imagines a life different from the one she has. This belittling seems driven both by fear of losing Mariam and by envy, as Mariam’s longings stir up Nana’s own unfulfilled desires and disappointments.

At the same time, Nana is possessive and fearful of losing Mariam. There is a deep ambivalence in her mothering: she clings to Mariam as her only companion while simultaneously using guilt and shame to keep her dependent. The interactions between them are heartbreaking — Mariam is left apologizing for her own birth, internalizing the idea that she is a burden simply for existing.

There is both cruelty and desperate attachment to her daughter, as she is all she has.

And then we get to Chapter 5 — ugh, I felt the pain at the end viscerally. I actually had to put the book down for the night. My dad committed suicide, so this chapter brought up some very personal feelings for me.

This is how I interpreted Nana’s suicide: consistent with how I’ve already described her behavior toward Mariam, it felt like an act rooted in her fear of abandonment. She experienced Mariam’s visit to Jalil as a final betrayal, a confirmation that she had lost her daughter too. At the same time, there was an element of emotional manipulation in it, which aligns with the way Nana had already related to Mariam throughout the book (for example, warning her that she would die if she ever went to find Jalil). To me, it almost read as: “If you choose to leave me, fine — but when he betrays you, I won’t be here.” It’s devastating because it leaves Mariam not only with unbearable grief but also with a heavy burden of guilt, reinforcing the shame she had already begun to internalize. She also now doesn’t have a father or a mother which is heartbreaking in itself. I so desperately wanted to reach through the pages and hug her and tell her that this isn't her fault.

I have so much to say about Mariam and her feelings towards Jalil but I’ll save that for another post as I’m tired of writing for now lol (hide spoiler)]

Sorry, that was long lol

The above spoiler section covers chapters 1-11 of the abridged version of the book.

Once I reread the full book I'll be able to respond to you =]

Kala wrote: "The above spoiler section covers chapters 1-11 of the abridged version of the book.

Once I reread the full book I'll be able to respond to you =]"

You should be able to read mine bc its only chap 1-5!

Amanda wrote: "Kala wrote: "The above spoiler section covers chapters 1-11 of the abridged version of the book.

Once I reread the full book I'll be able to respond to you =]"

You should be able to read mine bc ..."

ohh you mean the like the full version of the book instead of the abridged version?

Yeah, I was listening to the abridged version and realized that when I was trying to find what page numbers corresponded. But I was able to borrow a regular copy so I get all of the feels that come with it.

For Chapters 1-5
(view spoiler)[
You described the portrayal of Nana so perfectly. She needs Mariam to be dependent on her, and she takes out all of her angry on Mariam. In the book they do have visitors, the arbab, Bibi jo, and Mullah. The author doesn't go into if she's ever verbally attacked them, it seems to be purely her daughter.

Is there anything about Jalil's story that you think are true? After the way he left her on the street I don't believe a single on is true. Which is hard breaking because I feel Nana did need medication from actual doctors, and I think she would have taken them if Jalil was the one who provided them to her.

It drove me nuts that all her anger would be taken out on his sons who he sent to bring them food, but when Jalil himself would come she would sit peacefully next to him and talk calmly. At that point in their relationship and with everything he had done there was no point for her to calmly sit there.

As I write this post I just thought of a possible reason for her to be calm.

What if it was to prevent him from using Nana as an excuse not to see Mariam. I really don't want to see Nana as a character her sat quietly because she was lovesick. What if one of the few good things Nana did for her daughter, was to sit calmly when this man she hated showed up. So he couldn't tell Mariam he can't visit anymore because of her aggression. But sadly when he left she would then take all her pent up aggression out on the only person there, Mariam.

On a side note, difference I can remember between the two versions if you're interested.

The left out the description of where their home was located. They didn't talk about the two brothers coming and getting rocks thrown at them. Nothing about her wanting to go to school was in it. There was no mention of the vistors, the arbab or Bibi jo. And Mullah was only in it very briefly. And the last big different I can remember is they didn't talk about Nana's calm behavior was when Jalil was around, or the conversation about Mariam being the 11th child (and later the pebble scene).

(hide spoiler)]

Kala wrote: "Yeah, I was listening to the abridged version and realized that when I was trying to find what page numbers corresponded. But I was able to borrow a regular copy so I get all of the feels that come..."

(view spoiler)[Sadly, I dont think anthing Jalil said was true. As i was reading the first few chapters (before she went to go see him), I did notice a little bit of hope, like a "what if he is actually a good guy and nana is lying," but it was fleeting as I knew logically that everything Nana said about him was likely true which got confirmed when she went to go see him. That being said, I do wonder if he does genuinely care about her at all or if she is just seen as a duty to him bc he doesn't want his reputation tarnished. My sense is that there is some care there, I dont think I would call it love, but I think he does care in some way, on some level. I think his wives, in addition to own shame, contribute to his dismissiveness of her. Which be comes more clear to me in chapter 6 or whenever it is she stays with him after Nana dies. What are your thoughts? (hide spoiler)]

I've read up to Chapter 10 so far. This spoiler only covers the part you are referring to. I hope to wrote an actual post of the rest of what I read later tonight when I'm at a computer.

(view spoiler)[
After she stays with them you can see how much the wives don't want her there. Telling their daughters that Mariam's not their sister. I think Jalil wants to love her but he would never stand up to his wives after the shame he brought onto the family, which just hurts Mariam more. I do think you're right, he visited her to save face with the public. People could see him doing the right thing. I do think he enjoyed those visits but would never admit to his wives that he loves her/wants her.

After the funeral he acts worried about her in front of the public. It's just infuriating, especially when he didn't care about what the public thought when he left her laying on the street.
(hide spoiler)]

starting tonight!

Chapters 6–18 Reflections
Since this is a bigger section, I’ll list the thoughts I’ve had throughout these chapters in bullet points (not in any particular order, just how I remember them)

(view spoiler)[:
1 . [ ] When Mariam went to stay with Jalil after Nana’s death, I really hoped that, since her mom was gone, they might let her stay with them. I should have known that was wishful thinking. When they announced they had found a suitor for her, I just felt such grief for her. I can’t imagine going through everything she had just gone through and then being told you’re gonna have to move, marry a 40-year-old stranger, and lose contact with the few people she did have in her life. I honestly just can’t even imagine it.

-2. [ ] I was struck by Mariam’s resilience throughout these chapters and how she managed to find ways to survive, like trying to look for the positives in Rasheed. In particular, when she found his porno magazines and at first saw it as another sign of her own failure, she was able to twist it in her head to try to understand things from his perspective instead. Whether or not the excuses she made for him were valid, they kept her from falling deeper into despair and let her empathize with him enough to tolerate living with him. Then, after reflecting on what he’d been through, she even comments on the possibility of being companions with him after all, which just shows her resilience and ability to adapt in a horrible situation.

- This part (with the porno mags) also stood out to me because it’s like the first time she’s noticing the hypocrisy of misogyny through the lens innocent eyes.

- 3. [ ] The miscarriage is sooo sad. She just can’t get a break. I was a little confused though — did she have one miscarriage and then never get pregnant again, or were there multiple miscarriages? How did you guys interpret that?

-4. [ ] In the first few chapters, Nana tells Mariam over and over about “enduring.” How women have to endure. That kept coming to mind as I read these chapters, because enduring is literally what she’s forced to do with Rasheed: his abuse, his control, his terrorizing. The pebble scene was just awful. It also made me realize how much Rasheed controls every part of her life, from her body to her clothes to her voice. It kind of feels like Nana’s words about “enduring” set her up to expect this kind of suffering, like she internalized that message from the start.

- 5. [ ] Once Laila is introduced, the one thing I can’t help but notice is the stark contrast between her family and Mariam’s family. Laila has two parents who love her and want the best for her. Her dad encourages her education, while Mariam’s mom completely shut that down. Laila’s home life isn’t perfect since her mom seems like she’s really struggling with depression (I think she might have Bipolar Disorder) and is pretty disengaged, which is sad too, but still her foundation is completely different from Mariam’s. I feel like this is setting up something important for later in the book, like Mariam was taught only to endure, while Laila had more opportunities and support, and it’s gonna shape them in different ways.

-6. [ ] Another thing that stuck with me is just how lonely Mariam’s life feels. First isolated with Nana, then isolated with Rasheed. It’s heartbreaking. That’s why Laila’s arrival feels so huge. Maybe it’s a sign Mariam won’t always have to carry everything by herself. Although, I really don't want anything to happen to Lalia's dad. I love him :( (hide spoiler)]

Grace wrote: "starting tonight!"

yay!

looks like the book I have is divided into 4 parts
but I will do my updates per chapter and check yours accordingly

Grace wrote: "looks like the book I have is divided into 4 parts
but I will do my updates per chapter and check yours accordingly"

yes, mine has 4 parts too but i've just kinda been ignoring that lol

Chapters 18–36 Reflections

Umm ok, wtf 😐

(view spoiler)[ I knew something was going to happen to Laila’s family but I really didn’t want her dad to die :( ugh, heartwrenching. And the whole situation with Rasheed… he disgusts me. I feel really bad for Mariam. I feel bad for Laila too, of course, but I found myself empathizing with Mariam right after Rasheed decided to marry Laila and then with Laila being pregnant and everything.

Rasheed treating Laila like a queen to further devalue Mariam made me so angry, and then how he acted when the baby turned out to be a girl. Ugh. I was so terrified for them when the police took them back to Rasheed after they tried to escape. I was honestly worried he was going to kill Aziza.

Do you think they’ll ever escape? With the Taliban now taking over, I don’t think they will, sadly. Maybe at the very end of the book?

.
At the end of Chapter 34, my heart was so warmed by the start of Mariam’s and Laila’s friendship, and Mariam’s relationship with Aziza. Even though this was painful for Mariam at first, Laila and Aziza are exactly what she needed. I kinda wish they could just kill Rasheed and raise Aziza together. It feels like this bond between Mariam and Laila is being set up for something really important later, like their solidarity will be what helps them survive.


Two quotes that really hit me:
* On pg. 252, when Aziza reaches out for Mariam: “Mariam had never before been wanted like this. Love has never been declared to her so guilelessly, so unreversedly.” Mariam responds, “Why have you pinned your little best to ugly old hats like me? I’m nobody, don’t you see?” She calls it her first true connection, which was exactly what I was thinking when I saw her starting to care for Aziza earlier in these chapters. This made me tear up. I want Mariam to experience happiness so badly.
* On pg. 254, when she thought Aziza was looking for reassurance while Rasheed was being a mean POS to her: “But when it came to fathers, Mariam had no assurances to give.”

Another thing that really stood out to me was Aziza technically also being a harami herself, as Mariam says. Wow, I didn’t make that connection at first. I wonder if Mariam will learn to love herself through loving the child who is also “illegitimate.” By having compassion for Aziza, maybe she can also find compassion for herself.

It feels like these connections, with Laila and with Aziza, are starting to shift Mariam’s whole identity. For the first time, she’s being valued and wanted, and it makes me hopeful that she might begin to see herself differently. (hide spoiler)]

I just read up to chapter 18.

(view spoiler)[
1. I felt so sad for her when they first shortened the marriage ceremony because they had poorly planned the whole thing in the first place. Basically as soon as they could get her out, not even being able to say goodbye, or letting them know where she was going. I was proud of her for standing up to Jalil before getting on the train so he couldn't write it off as something good he had done.

2. Mariam's ability to find goodness in a situation is remarkable. She doesn't show hate or internal anger. She really is just scared.

3. My coworker already told me her story was full of heartbreak so I had a feeling. But I wonder just how different Rasheed would have been had she not lost the baby. He was gruff and definitely had his faults, but in the beginning he didn't seem abusive. Sadly, that all went downhill.

I believe the book stated she had 6 more pregnancies but lost them all.

4. The pebble scene was awful and I am so thankful to not have to worry about that in my life. But it's scary to think of all the abusive people that are out there, where things like this do happen.

5. I felt so bad when Laila referred to Mariam as Rasheed reclusive wife. Because had he not been so controlling of her I feel like she would have been friends with the entire street after a year or two of living there. Once she became more sure of herself as a woman.

6. Laila just feels so upbeat and happy now, but with the wtf I have a feeling that is going to change.
(hide spoiler)]

Kala wrote: "I just read up to chapter 18.


(view spoiler)[ Omg that made me so sad too when Lalia called Miriam his reclusive wife 🥺 & that's a good question, if Rasheed would have treated her differently if she had a boy in particular. I feel like he would still be abusive and find something else to be disappointed about, honestly, but I don't think he would be treating her as if she doesn't exist like he does now. I think the fact they she wasn't able to have kids is reflective of her value in his eyes, sadly. (hide spoiler)]

You make a very good point about that.

(view spoiler)[ The author did a good job of writing Rasheed's character. Even if the story changed I can't see it changing his behavior. Maybe softening it at best for a short time, but eventually ending in disappointment.
(hide spoiler)]

I am going very slow in this one
I feel it will take me a minute to get into it but once I do I will just roll, I am just trying to get myself in the right mindspace

I'm reading a few different books right now so I won't be the fastest at finishing this book. But there are definitely moments in this book where I can't put it down.

Currently I'm at chapter 24 and I was more interested in Mariam's story than Laila's. But I have a feeling that will change shortly.

I feel you both! I can only read one book at a time, so that's partly why I'm going through it so fast too. Although, I typically don't go through books this fast tbh lol I wish I could read multiple books at a time like you both! I can only do it with like fiction and a non fiction, but not two fiction books.

Kala - I also feel more interested in Mariam's story. I was waiting to get back to her while reading Lalia's, but it does start becoming one at some point, so it gets better!

Grace - I completely feel you. There are actually multiple aspects of this book that I can relate to (one thing I discuss in one of my posts) however, there are others as well, which can bring up some difficult feelings so it's hard but I also think that's what draws me to it (which I guess might be masochistic of me idk lol) - but its definitely an book you want to be in the right space for.

I'll be happy to continue discussing it even after I finish because I just have so many thoughts and feelings that have been lingering even after finishing those parts in the book, so take your time :)

Btw I added in A Thousand Splendid Suns in on the spreadsheet for "features an army" under Shan Yu. I selected BR. Is there a place I should add your names as well or is just one name there fine?

That leads me to another question. When the 3 of us finish the book would we be able to use it 3 times on the spreadsheet. Because it also fits the challenges of using Flower in text and someone who has colored hair.

Amanda no need to add our names, you just add the link to the sheet or review tab when you put it up

and yes, we can use it 3 different times and get 3 timea the BR double points

and thing is I work on war and emergency contexts, so this is every day life for me if we're speaking about masochism 😂

random comment

I am listening to the audiobook and reading and in my head when I am reading I am pronouncing the words in Arabic, then the narrator goes and says them in the Afghan Dari dialect and I am having an identity crisis 😂

she's also quite monotonous so maybe she didn't pull me in, but I know with these types of books it takes me a couple of chapters to get going

Grace wrote: "random comment

I am listening to the audiobook and reading and in my head when I am reading I am pronouncing the words in Arabic, then the narrator goes and says them in the Afghan Dari dialect a..."

lmao at least you speak Arabic, I had to stop like 15x so far to Google what different words meant & to understand the history of Afghanistan bc when they start talking about the policital uprising I was so confused about who was who 😂

& the narrator is monotonous or Miriam? lol

Is the narrator for your edition Atossa Leoni? That's the version I was listening to until I realized it was abridged.

It took me forever to figure out the war factions. That's the part of the book I feel out of, just because I was struggling to wrap my head around all the different people and who was on whose's side.

Chapters 18-36 (Amanda - Your spoiler covers events that happens in chapter 36.

(view spoiler)[
I am so scared for both of their lives after the police returned them to Rasheed. It was at this point that I don't believe they have any hope of escape other than Rasheed's (natural?) death. They did forshadow in the beginning that Mariam signs her name again, I believe it was 27 years after she signed the marriage license.

I also wished they could kill Rasheed, but I tend to read a lot of thriller books so that's much more common, realistically if I were in there situation I don't know if I would be able to. And even if they did they would still have to try a survive in a world that is unfriendly to woman, where I don't think either of them could get a job.

I over Rasheed only wanting a boy. It's still a child, but alas, he just wants to erase his past and pretend it never happened.

I'm so happy for the friendship that the two of them were able to make. And Mariam connecting to Aziza is one of the sweetest thing. I agree that she can become more accepting of herself through the acceptance she know Aziza deserves.

I will say I was surprised when Mariam hoped that Jalil had taken his wives out of the country. It shows she's not holding a grudge over what they did to her, she's a remarkable woman for that.

(hide spoiler)]

That last chapter was a hard one to read.

Amanda wrote: "I had to stop like 15x so far to Google what different words meant & to understand the history of Afghanistan bc when they start talking about the policital uprising ..."

I am definitely more familiar with some things considering I live in Lebanon, but even some words have different meanings

like harami in Dari means bastard, but in Arabic means thief
so it's taking some adaptation

But I also think that Khaled should've put some footnotes or so for some of these things to explain them. I will see more when I get to the political part how well I fair with my knowledge


Amanda wrote: "& the narrator is monotonous or Miriam? lol ..."

EXCELLENT question! Both maybe? But probably the narrator more.

Kala wrote: "Is the narrator for your edition Atossa Leoni? That's the version I was listening to until I realized it was abridged...."

Yes it's Atossa! Which version did you end up listening to after that? or you stayed with the same? I am not sure if there are more than 1

I'm currently reading now because the unabridged audiobook had a wait.

I liked her narrating but I think its more because I could hear her speak these words I've never heard before.

Chapters 37-End of book

I finished the book guys & I’m sad that it’s over 🥺 This is definitely being added to the top of my best books ever read list.

(view spoiler)[ Khaled has such a beautiful way with words & I felt like I was fully immersed in the story (aside from the few times I had to stop to look things up lol).

I love when a book makes you feel like you truly know and care for the characters. I love the use of imagery, symbolism, & foreshadowing that Khaled uses throughout the book. The theme of “enduring” stood out the most to me as it was consistent throughout the book, and it speaks to the helplessness of women who live in these situations. Feeling (and being) so powerless that they just have to endure.

My thoughts on the ending:

- So Miriam dying… I did not see that coming at all. I kept saying to myself like no, shes gonna change her mind and then when it said “Lalia never saw Miriam again,” I was like no way 😭 ugh, I was so frustrated! I felt like she finally had a chance to be free and enjoy life with someone she loved and who loved her. But the ending was bittersweet. Tariq being alive made me so happy. I did not see that coming either. I felt so much relief and shock when she saw him standing on her doorstep (along with fear bc I knew it was going to be bad with Rasheed).

- Even though Miriam dying crushed me, it was beautiful to see the strength she had gained at the end and decided to endure no longer, to fight back, even if that was the last thing she did. She sacrificed herself so that Lalia and Aziza could have a future.

- "Kneel here, hamshira. And look down. One last time, Mariam did as she was told". - phew, that quote. I sat in silence for like 5 minutes after reading that. So powerful.

- The last page and a 1/2 made me cryyyy. When Lalia started describing all the ways Miriam was still with her. I was crying like a baby

- What’s interesting, though, is that this book is so beautiful and so heartwrenching at the same time, but I did not actually cry until that last page and a half. I think that is because this book brought up a different kind of sadness for me. Not the type of sadness that necessarily brings tears, but the type that you feel in your stomach and that feels like a weight on your chest. You feel a heaviness in your heart. I would love to hear your guys’ experience with that!


- The only thing I was a little disappointed about was that I thought the book was going to go more into post 9/11 Afghanistan, so I was a little upset that it didn’t. When Lalia decided she wanted to go back to Afghanistan, I wanted to stop her bc I know there would be war there for the next 20 years. But I think Khaled stopped there so that Lalia could have a happy ending. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 44

(view spoiler)[
Never have I hated a child under the age of ten than in this chapter. I understand why he would talk about a stranger. But did he not realize the man wasn't a stranger to his mother. Oh man. There's so much I want to say. But I just needed to rant about that before bed.
(hide spoiler)]

Kala wrote: "Chapter 44


Never have I hated a ..."

LMAOO girl I literally feel you.

(view spoiler)[ I felt the same way about him he really pisses me off. I don't know what part you're at exactly so don't want to say too much but I really wanted them to just escape and leave him there lol

him saying "mommy made a new friend" like seriously shut up lol
(hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ I will say the author did a fantastic job writing that chapter going back and forth. It really built up the tension as you went along. (hide spoiler)]