There’s something special about Danny. I’ve known it from the moment I first held him, long before the doctors had their say.

Danny is five and doesn’t speak. The doctors say his development is delayed, but I can feel it: Danny is different. Not broken, just… different.

As I look around the living room, brightly decorated for Danny’s birthday, I see him sitting by the window, tracing the carpet with his fingers. I smile, knowing that’s just Danny in his own world.

Louise, my daughter, is fussing over the cake, distant lately. Albert, her husband, is on his phone, probably working.

Just as I’m about to look away, Danny stands up and marches toward me. For the first time, he meets my eyes.

“Grandma,” he says softly. My heart stops. “I need to tell you something about Mommy.”

The room goes silent. Every head turns. Louise drops the knife she was using to cut the cake.

I smile down at him, though my hands tremble. “What is it, sweetheart?”

Danny’s voice is calm. “Mommy has a secret.”

Louise steps forward, her face pale. “Danny, why don’t you go play? We’ll talk later.”

But Danny doesn’t budge. “She’s not going to be around anymore,” he says, matter-of-factly.

The air turns cold. I swallow hard. “What do you mean, Danny?”

“I heard her tell the man on the phone,” he says. “She said she didn’t love Daddy anymore and something’s wrong with me.”

Louise gasps, and Albert finally looks up, confusion twisting his features.

“Danny, that’s enough!” Louise cries, but I hold up a hand.

“No, let him finish.”

Danny blinks, oblivious. “Mommy’s leaving. She told someone on the phone.”

The words hit like a punch. Louise sobs, and Albert stares at her in shock.

“Danny, stop!” Louise pleads, but I can’t let her silence him.

Albert’s hurt begins to show. “Louise, is this true?”

She shakes her head, tears streaming. “No, no, it’s not like that. He must’ve misheard.”

“Misheard?” His voice rises. “He said you don’t love me anymore! How do you mishear that?”

“I was upset,” she stammers. “I said things I didn’t mean.”

Danny watches, calm as ever, while the chaos unfolds.

I pull him into my arms. “It’s okay, baby. It’s okay.”

Albert turns to Louise, voice low. “Who was the man, Louise?”

Her silence speaks volumes.

He nods slowly, realization sinking in. “So it’s true. You’re leaving. You don’t love me anymore.”

Louise collapses into a chair, shaking. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” she cries. “I’m lost.”

The tension is thick. I hold Danny close, shielding him.

Albert’s voice softens. “And what about Danny? You were going to leave him too?”

“I love him,” she insists. “But it’s so hard. I feel like I’m failing him.”

The confession hangs in the air. I’m overwhelmed, unsure how to comfort her.

After the divorce, Albert is broken but devoted to Danny, who has started speaking more, observing before sharing his thoughts.

One night, I tuck Danny in.

“Grandma,” he says, “do you know why I didn’t talk for so long?”

“Why, baby?”

“I was waiting for the right time.”

“For what?”

“To tell the truth.”

I sit there, realizing his quietness is his strength. It has brought us closer to understanding.