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 breaks to feel him close

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

his arms wrapped around me, staring down at our

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

so mad,” Roger replies, his

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

at the baby with an expression somewhere between shock and awe. “I doubt

close and pressing a kiss to his forehead. “Welcome to

“I couldn’t have come up with something that good. He

me,” I sigh. “My whole heart,

though I’m exhausted, and my whole body is aching, I

minutes where it feels like Roger and the baby and I are the only three people in the world. I almost jump in surprise when I feel

at her. “What do you think, Cora?” she asks quietly. “Will you let the nurses

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

my arms. “You’re just an excited new mom and the birth went beautifully, no

as she carries the baby across the room to be weighed and checked out by the doctor. But the nurse is right – everything went well, and the baby

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

sigh, placing my hands on top of hers and laughing

her reaction. But then she just grins and

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

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 and sweeping

I feel

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