Chapter 13 - A Moment of Hope
The next morning,
the rain had cleared.
Bright sunlight filtered through the gaps in the heavy curtains.
I woke up early,
watching Megan sleep.
She looked younger when she wasn't frowning in fear.
Suddenly,
she stirred,
her eyes snapping open.
She gasped,
placing her hand over her belly.
"What is it?"
I asked,
sitting up in a panic.
"Is it the baby?"
A slow smile spread across her face,
the first real smile I had seen in a month.
"He's kicking,"
she whispered.
"Hard."
She grabbed my hand,
placing it firmly against her stomach.
I waited,
holding my breath.
Then,
I felt it.
A distinct,
powerful little thud against my palm.
It was a tiny miracle in the middle of a nightmare.
Tears filled my eyes.
"He's a fighter,"
I said,
my voice cracking.
"Just like his mom."
Megan laughed,
a sound that brought a brief flash of our old apartment back into reality.
"We're going to protect him,"
she said,
May you like
her voice finding a new strength.
"We have to."
