Le's Soldier

Part 90!

Open Your Eyes:

The next twenty minutes felt like hours.

Lilly sat in the corridor with her elbows resting on her knees, staring at the floor.

Her hands were wrapped in gauze now, but she barely noticed.

Amanda sat beside her.

David stood nearby, pacing slowly.

Nobody spoke.

Nobody knew what to say.

Finally, the doors opened.

"Lilly?"

She shot to her feet.

"Yes?"

"You can come in now."

Lilly didn't wait.

She rushed into the room.

And stopped.

Leah was lying completely still.

There were monitors around her, IV lines running, oxygen helping her breathe.

Lilly's heart broke all over again.

But then she heard it.

Beep.

A heartbeat.

Beep.

Another.

She walked slowly toward the bed.

"Hi, baby."

Leah didn't respond.

Lilly pulled a chair beside her and carefully took her hand.

It was warm.

That was all Lilly needed.

"You scared the absolute shit out of me."

Her voice trembled.

"I thought you were gone."

She pressed Leah's hand against her cheek.

"I can't do that again."

The midwife came over quietly.

"She's stable for now. She's exhausted and will need monitoring closely."

Lilly nodded.

"Is the baby okay?"

"He's perfect."

Lilly closed her eyes.

A sob escaped her.

"Thank God."

The midwife smiled gently.

"He's with the neonatal team for a little while, but he's doing beautifully."

Lilly looked back at Leah.

"You hear that?"

Nothing.

"Our boy's okay."

She squeezed Leah's hand.

"You did it."

⸻

A few minutes later, Amanda and David were allowed inside.

Amanda immediately covered her mouth when she saw Leah.

"Oh, sweetheart..."

David stood at the foot of the bed, tears running down his face.

Lilly looked at them.

"She came back."

Amanda nodded through tears.