EMERSYN
JESS
he quiet hum of the hospital filled the air as Luke pushed my wheelchair out of Laura’s room in the ICU. My heart felt lighter now. Seeing Laura awake, talking–even if she was weak–was a miracle I hadn’t dared hope for just hours ago. Josh was at her side, practically glued to her, his hand clutching hers like he was afraid she’d disappear if he let go.
“Take it easy, you big oaf,” Laura had teased, her voice hoarse but filled with that familiar sass. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Josh just shook his head, tears brimming in his eyes. “You scared me,” he whispered. “Never do that again, okay?”
“I’ll do my best, but no promises,” Laura joked, her lips twitching into a small smile.
Luke had been silent, standing behind me, but his presence was steady, grounding. When it was time to leave, I’d squeezed Laura’s hand and smiled through my own tears.
“You scared us all, you know,” I said softly.
“Yeah, well,” Laura replied with a faint grin, “you’ve got a baby to think about now, so quit worrying about me.”
I didn’t know how she could joke, but it gave me hope.
Now, as Luke wheeled me down the hallway, the sterile scent of the hospital seemed less oppressive.
EMERSYN
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“For the best part of today,” Luke whispered in my ear, his warm breath brushing against my cheek.
I shivered, glancing back at him. “What’s that?”
He grinned, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder as he steered us into another corridor. “You’ll see.”
The hallways blurred past us, a mix of soft colors and quiet sounds, but I barely noticed. My heart was pounding now, anticipation building as we neared the neonatal ICU. Luke stopped just outside the door, leaning down so his face was close to mine.
“Ready?” he asked, his voice low and full of something I couldn’t quite name.
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat.
Luke pushed the door open, and we entered a world that was both fragile and breathtaking. The room was dimly lit, with soft beeping from monitors and a gentle hum from the warming stations. Nurses moved quietly, their voices low and calm. Everything felt sacred, like we were stepping into a place where miracles happened.
And then, on the other side of the glass, I saw her.
My breath caught in my chest. She was so tiny, swaddled in a pink blanket with the smallest cap covering her head. Her little fists were curled up beside her cheeks, and her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. The world tilted for a moment, and I felt Jike I might break into a thousand pieces just looking at her.
“She’s beautiful,” I whispered, tears spilling over my cheeks.
“She’s perfect,” Luke said, his voice thick with emotion.
1288 Vouchers
I couldn’t take my eyes off her. The soft light highlighted the tiniest features I’d ever seen–her button nose, her delicate lips. My heart felt like it might explode with the overwhelming love rushing through me.
Luke moved to stand beside me, his arm wrapping around my shoulders as he leaned down to kiss the top of my head. “You okay, babe?”
I nodded, though my tears were falling faster now. “She’s so beautiful,” I repeated, my voice trembling.
Luke chuckled softly, his own eyes misty. “Yeah, she is. Just like her mom.”
I turned to him, my heart full, and asked, “What should we name her?”
Luke tilted his head, considering for a moment. “Something strong. She’s already proven she’s a fighter.”
A name bubbled up in my mind, one that felt right. “What about Emersyn?” I said softly.
Luke raised an eyebrow. “Emersyn?”
“It means ‘brave and powerful.‘ She’s been fighting from the moment she came into this world,” I explained, my fingers brushing against the glass. “And she won. She’s our little fighter.”
Luke smiled, and the way he looked at me made my heart skip a beat. “Emersyn,” he said, testing the name on his lips. “It’s
EMERSYN
perfect.”
I couldn’t stop staring at her. She shifted slightly, her tiny fingers stretching for a moment before curling back into fists. My chest ached with love so powerful it felt like it might consume me.
Luke leaned down, his lips brushing my temple as he whispered, “I love you, Jess. I love you and Emersyn more than anything.”
I turned to him, my tears still falling, and whispered back, “I love you too.”
We stayed there for what felt like hours, watching Emersyn through the glass, soaking in every detail of her. The weight of the past few days began to lift, replaced by the bright, warm light of hope.
In that moment, standing there with Luke beside me and our baby girl in front of us, I felt something I hadn’t in a long time.
Peace.
Hope.
And a future worth fighting for.
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