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1: Corabelle

I could hear the beep of a heart ht was — Finn is still alive

I forcedmaybe, soht be a drea to have another moment where my baby was still with me, still in this world

But when s came into focus, I realized ere not in an NICU, nor was I waking in ray-walled and sterile, and the rails by my shoulder could only mean that I was the patient

So creaked, and I turned h my neck and up into my skull Gavin slept slumped over in a chair, the footrest kicked out He looked bedraggled, his black hair spiking up every direction, the scruff on his jaw even longer than usual He was perfect My eyes sparked with tears, pinpricks that one, but Gavin was back

I closed h that I could sort throughwith reen coat that

And Gavin He’d tolda vasectomy after the baby’s funeral How much he’d hurt

We both hurt soanymore

But he’d saved me Pulled me from the water like I was meant to be reborn

Footsteps approached “Did she wake up?” a woman asked

The chair creaked again “I don’t know,” Gavin said

I openedto accept the pain A nurse in blue scrubs leaned over ray curls “Well, lookie there, Miss Corabelle has brown eyes”

Gavin ju up beside hers “You’re awake, baby We’ve been so worried”

I wanted to talk, but h seared my chest, which felt heavy and stiff

“Let et you some water,” the nurse said and turned away

Gavin grasped ot pneus from—”