After another day at the hospital, Nicole and Devin returned home, both exhausted but carryin' the heavy ache of not bein' able to bring their baby girl home with them. The NICU visits were bittersweet—every time they saw her, she seemed stronger, but it wasn't enough. She wasn't ready to come home, and that fact tore at Nicole's heart.
As soon as they stepped through the door, Nicole felt the sadness overwhelm her. The house was too quiet, too empty. She hadn't said much to Devin on the ride home, and now that they were back, the emotions she had been holdin' in started to break free.
Without a word, Nicole walked toward the baby's room. The door was already open, and the sight of the empty crib hit her like a punch to the chest. She stood there for a moment, takin' it all in—the crib, the soft pink blankets, the tiny clothes folded neatly in the drawers, all waitin' for a baby that wasn't there.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she stepped inside, her heart heavin' with the weight of it all. She had dreamed of this moment for so long—bringin' their baby home, holdin' her close, rockin' her to sleep in the nursery they had so carefully prepared. But instead, she was goin' home alone, leavin' her baby behind in the NICU.
Nicole collapsed onto the rocking chair, her body shakin' with sobs as the tears flowed freely. "I can't do this," she whispered, her voice broken. "I was supposed to bring her home."
Her hands clutched the arm of the chair as she cried, feelin' the pain of separation cut deep. She had never imagined it would be like this—leavin' the hospital without her baby, watchin' her fight for her life, not knowin' when or if she'd be strong enough to come home.
"I don't want to leave her there," Nicole sobbed, her hands coverin' her face. "I want her home with us. I just want her here."
Prayers and Hopes
Through her tears, Nicole lifted her head, lookin' around the room that was supposed to be filled with their baby's laughter, her cries, her presence. But it was empty, and that emptiness felt unbearable.
With a shaky breath, she closed her eyes, foldin' her hands together as she prayed—prayed for her baby girl, for her strength, for her to keep fightin' through all the challenges.
"Please, God," Nicole whispered, her voice tremblin'. "Please let her be okay. Please let her keep growin' stronger. I can't lose her. I need her to be strong."
Her tears fell harder as she poured her heart out, askin' for strength not just for her baby, but for herself. The weight of motherhood, the fear, the helplessness—it all felt too much to carry. But she had to believe that their baby would make it through. She had to believe that their family would be whole.
Devin's Support
A few minutes later, Devin walked in, findin' Nicole in the rocker, her shoulders still shakin' with quiet sobs. His heart ached as he watched her, knowin' how hard this was for both of them, but especially for Nicole. She had been so strong through everything, but now, he could see the toll it was takin'.
He walked over and knelt down beside her, takin' her hands in his. "We gon' get through this, Nic," Devin said softly, his voice full of love. "She's fightin', and we gotta keep fightin' too."
Nicole wiped at her tears, but they kept fallin'. "I just want her home, Dev. I hate leavin' her there. It breaks my heart every time."
Devin nodded, his own eyes filled with emotion. "I know. I hate it too. But she's strong, Nic. She's fightin', and one day, we gon' bring her home. We just gotta hold on a little longer."
Nicole leaned into him, cryin' softly against his chest as Devin held her close. They sat there together, surrounded by the quiet of the nursery, both of them holdin' on to hope—hope that their baby girl would grow stronger with each passing day, hope that soon, they'd be able to bring her home.
Holdin' On
As the night went on, Nicole's sobs slowly turned into quiet sniffles, her body worn out from the emotional breakdown. Devin stayed by her side, rubbin' her back, whisperin' words of comfort, remindin' her that they weren't alone in this.
"She's gon' come home, Nic," Devin said softly. "She's gon' be okay. We just gotta keep prayin' and keep believin'."
Nicole nodded, knowin' he was right, but still feelin' the weight of her fears. She would keep fightin' for their baby girl, keep prayin', and keep holdin' on to the belief that one day soon, they'd all be together as a family.
But for now, all she could do was wait and hope that their baby girl would keep growin' stronger with every moment.
YOU ARE READING
More Than Friends
RomanceFor years, Devin has been secretly in love with Nicole, his best friend since high school. He's watched her date other guys, always staying silent about his feelings, fearing it would ruin their friendship. Now, at 23, their tight-knit friend group...
