The room is dim, the steady beep of the monitor and the faint hum of the hospital ventilation system providing the only sounds as I lie in bed, gazing at the ceiling. My body is exhausted, but my mind is racing. Lily is just down the hall, being checked over by the nurses before they bring her back to me, and the anticipation of holding her again makes it impossible to rest.
I glance at the clock on the wall, its hands moving slowly, teasing me. It’s been a little over an hour since I last saw her since they whisked her away to check her vitals after the delivery. I know it’s routine, and I know she’s in good hands, but I still feel an ache in my chest, an emptiness where she should be.
Ryan sits beside me, his large frame hunched forward, elbows resting on his knees. His eyes are fixed
