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.

head curled against my elbow-my heart just breaks to feel him close to me, so strange

every ounce of him, every tiny finger and toe, his wide and crying

my side, his arms wrapped

can’t believe he’s here,” I whisper in

can’t believe he’s so mad,”

at 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 him for the first time, like how beautiful

with an expression somewhere between shock

boy,” I murmur to the baby, cuddling him close and pressing a kiss to his forehead. “Welcome to

come up with something

I sigh. “My

aching, I just feel such rich, complete happiness in this

like Roger and the baby and I are the only three people in the world. I almost jump in surprise when I feel Ella’s hand

“What do you think, Cora?” she asks quietly. “Will you let the nurses clean him up and wrap in him in

the nurse comes close, reaching for him. “I’m sorry,” I say, shaking my head. “I didn’t

you didn’t,” the nurse says, grinning at me as she takes the baby from my arms. “You’re just an excited new mom and the birth went beautifully, no complications, so there’s no harm in wanting to hold him

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

me and holding her hands out, palm up. “I basically bled out after my traumatic pregnancy, and

placing my hands on top of hers and laughing a little. “I’m sure your next one will be perfectly

turn my head to the side, not understanding her reaction. But then she just grins and shakes her head, dismissing it.

I the one who usually asks that?” I murmur in reply, leaning my head

it starts to sweep through me, and I sit up a 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

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