Cora

“You’ve got this, Cora!” Ella cheers at my side while I squeeze Roger’s hand, panting and shouting as I give what the nurse has told me is one last, final push.

I put everything I have into this final moment, squeezing my eyes shut and pushing as hard as I can, wanting this done – wanting to feel my little baby in my arms

And suddenly the pressure lessens, and my eyes fly open as I gasp And there’s a little baby’s cry ringing out through the room.

“Here!” I gasp, leaning forward fervently, some motherly demand in me needing my little baby now even as I see him in the nurse’s hands. “Give him to me!”

The nurse hesitates, looking towards her colleagues. I moan a little, still reaching, wanting him now

“Do it,” Ella snaps suddenly up from my side. She stands and moves towards the nurse, putting a hang on her shoulder and gesturing towards me. ” He needs his mother – ”

Roger is completely still at my side, his eyes focused totally on the baby, who starts to cry his little heart out.

“Please,” I beg, reaching for him.

“All right,” the nurse says, nodding and bringing him forward. “We’ll clean him up in a minute – ”

And she takes two steps forward, and leans down, and places my little baby in my arms

And I burst immediately into tears.

of him against my arm-his little head curled against my elbow-my heart just

in every ounce of him, every tiny finger and toe, his wide and crying mouth with its perfect tiny

is pressed tight to my side, his arms wrapped around me, staring down at

believe he’s here,”

can’t believe he’s so mad,” Roger

him, sniffing back my tears, grateful that his strange sense of humor has at least stopped my crying. “You know, Roger,” I say quietly, “most new parents say something nice about their kid when they meet

an expression somewhere between shock and awe. “I doubt he’d even

to the baby, cuddling him close and pressing a kiss to his forehead. “Welcome to the world. You are very,

up with something that good. He

sigh.

my whole body is aching, I just

baby and I are the only three people

I look up at her. “What do you think, Cora?” she asks quietly. “Will you let the nurses clean him up and wrap in him in a blanket? And I’ll check you

to be checked. And I laugh as the nurse comes close, reaching for him.

the baby from my arms. “You’re just an excited new mom and the

the doctor. But the nurse is right – everything went well, and the

next to me and holding her hands out, palm up. “I basically

jealous, Ells,” I sigh, placing my hands on top of hers and laughing a

But then she just grins and shakes her head, dismissing it. “I’m sure it will,” she says with a

leaning my head on Roger’s shoulder, starting to feel my exhaustion now more than I did

little with curiosity. This isn’t the first time Ella has healed me, of course, but this is the most conscious I’ve been for it and I can really feel it this time – the way the gift runs through me, seeking out the parts of me that hurt

I

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255