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ACT III - Part V (The End)

I can hear someone calling my name from far away, but I can't tell which direction it's coming from. It's really dark here, wherever I am. The voice calls my name again, and suddenly I realize that it's Leo. I try to open my mouth but can't, unable to respond. It scares me and I try to move but can't.

"Aki, please open your eyes. I need you."

Bright light pierces into my head and I realize that I'm in a place I don't recognize. Looking around, I see it's a stark white room with the bed I'm lying on centered in the room. There are machines to my right and left, including a heart monitor that I hear beeping at a steady pace.

Leo is here. He's clutching my hand with his face buried in the white bedsheets on my legs. He's... crying. Still drowsy, I reach across with my free hand to run my hand through his brown curly locks. He flinches and looks up at me startled.

"Hi love, what's wrong?" I murmur, my voice very hoarse for some reason.

A sob escapes his throat and he quickly takes my face in his hands to kiss me. I feel his lips brushing over every square inch, causing me to laugh at the ticklish sensation.

"You're awake, oh my gosh," he's crying still as he caresses my face in disbelief.

"What happened?"

"Oh Aki, it was-"

"Shit! Was it the baby?" I panic, touching my obviously empty stomach.

"No, no, it's okay, she's perfectly healthy!"

"She?"

"Yes, we have a daughter. And she's beautiful."

"Can I hold her?"

"Of course, and I should let the nurse know you're awake now." He kisses my hand tenderly and whispers, "I thought I lost you."

Confused, I watch him press the call button and go to a small baby bed I hadn't noticed before. I gasp as he lifts out a little bundle swaddled in a soft green blanket. I can see a small pink hand and the top of a black hair covered head.

"Hello? Oh good, he's awake!" A woman in navy scrubs enters the room and quickly comes to my side. "How are you feeling Mr. O'kane?"

"Light headed and a little confused," my eyes locked back on the baby in Leo's arms.

"I'm going to move your head up, so you can hold her, ok?"

I nod quickly as she adjusts the bed for me. I lift my arms to take her, ignoring the needles in my arms as best as I can, and Leo brings her over. Then he sets her in my arms. Her sleeping form feels heavy to my weakened arms, but her size looks normal to me. Her skin is a peachy pink, and she was born with hair like mine, jet black and slightly wavy. I touch her tiny hand in awe.

Our beautiful daughter.

"Oh Leo... she's perfect." I feel him kiss my cheek.

"She is, isn't she?"

"And she's healthy?" I look up at the nurse.

"Yes, she had no complications with the delivery. Her weight is perfect, 3.2 kg [7.2 lbs.], and the doctor confirmed she is a very healthy baby." I give a sigh of relief and look back at her. "When she wakes up, we'd love to have you try to feed her yourself. I can have a lactation specialist ready if needed."

"So then... What were my complications? Did something happen when I went under?"

"Well... yes," she shifts uncomfortably. "During the delivery, there was excessive bleeding. We had to do a couple blood transfusions, but even after your levels came back up, it took longer than expected to wake up."