***
At the hospital, the tests took longer than they should have.
Then a doctor with kind, tired eyes came in.
“There’s a complication,” he said. “We’ll need general anesthesia.”
At the hospital
My stomach dropped.
“So I won’t be awake?”
“No. But you’ll be safe, and so will they.”
I gripped Andrew’s hand until my knuckles went pale. “Promise me you’ll be there when I wake up. Promise.”
“So I won’t be awake?”
“I promise.” He kissed my knuckles. “First face you’ll see.”
They wheeled me down the hall.
I watched Andrew until the doors closed, already imagining him holding our daughters when I woke.
***
“I promise.”
The first face I saw was a nurse’s.
“Congratulations, Mom,” she said, smiling. “Two beautiful girls. Both doing great.”
She tucked them into my arms, one at a time, her hand steady under my elbow.
