Chapter 11 - THE BABY WHO ARRIVED IN A STORM
Z
Lily arrived on a night of heavy rain.
Not snow.
Rain.
I was thirty-eight weeks pregnant.
I had just finished folding baby clothes when the contractions began.
At first, I thought they were practice contractions.
Then they grew stronger.
Closer together.
I called my maternity care team.
They advised me to come to the hospital.
Mrs. Alvarez drove me.
I called Lorenzo from the passenger seat.
He answered immediately.
“Emma?”
“I'm in labor.”
Silence.
Then:
“I'm coming.”
By the time I reached the hospital, I was terrified.
The contractions were intense.
I wanted my mother.
My grandfather.
Someone who had known me before everything went wrong.
Then Lorenzo arrived.
His hair was wet.
His coat was open.
He looked as frightened as I felt.
I almost laughed.
“You look terrible.”
He stared.
“You're having a baby.”
I laughed through a contraction.
“Yes, Lorenzo. I noticed.”
He stayed because I asked him to.
Held my hand.
Brought water.
Helped me breathe.
And never once made me feel weak.
After hours of labor, my daughter was born.
Small.
Pink.
Perfect.
Her cry filled the room.
I began sobbing.
The nurse placed her against my chest.
I looked down.
“Hello, Lily.”
Her tiny fingers curled.
I kissed her forehead.
“I'm your mommy.”
Lorenzo stood beside the bed.
His eyes were wet.
I looked up.
“Would you like to meet her?”
He nodded.
I smiled.
“Come closer.”
He leaned down.
Lily opened her eyes.
For a moment, she looked directly at him.
Lorenzo froze.
Then whispered:
“Hello, little princess.”
I laughed through tears.
He looked at me.
“She looks like you.”
I smiled.
“Poor thing.”
His expression changed.
“Don't say that.”
I stared.
He continued.
“She's beautiful.”
Then he looked at me.
May you like
“Just like her mother.”
And for the first time in my life, I believed those words.
