blinked awake. For one terrifying moment, I thought I was back in t

aid, and then James's fac

relief washing over hi

My voice crac

line of sight. "Your bab

with relief. "

h slightly low blood pressure. Not uncommon during the fi

d me to death. Mrs. Peterson found you passed o

last memories. The text from J

tinued, making notes on her clipboard. "Plenty

olemnly. "I'll

vernight for observation, but you should be

ser to my bed. His eyes were red-rimmed, hi

there," he said, voic

part of me wanted to agree with him. Where had h

m taking time off work. I'll work fr

't need t

ed. "My family com

red that same unease I'd felt during his phone call that morning. There was s

o check my vitals, in

e commented. "Try to rest. No stressful conv

n awkward silence

e TV?" James finally asked

"Tell me about y

o keep his tone light and engaging. I let the familiar cadence

aid casually. "She's planning to stop

d. "You told Zoe I'

She's your

tly did you

te identify. "Just that you fainted from dehydration, a

ickly. "Just wondering

oo long. "Is there something

tween us, loaded with

d, forcing a smile. "I jus

ith my answer. "You should rest. The doc

incts flare. Not our baby in that moment, bu

ly on my stomach. "I can't wait to meet you, little on

ting with tears. In that moment, he was the

person who had struck me acr

a, I reached for my phone on the bedside table. I scrolle

my husband is lying to me. I'm

together, the heartbreak of infertility, the emotional roller coaster

hone down wi

fusing to go home despite my insistence. I watched his sleeping face in the dim

nurse poked her head in

od pressure, she chatt

nod

g my arm. "And your husband hasn't left your side si

y, not trusting

ch one represented a home, a life, a story. How many of those stories resembled mine? How many wo

stomach. "We'll figure this out," I whi

the promise felt hollow, a despe