Outside, as snow flutters in the pitch-black Christmas Eve night, the paramedics open the ambulance doors and I’m wheeled towards safety. My hands on my knees, gritting my teeth. Rose shouts at Xander to stay inside my uterus. Connor coaches me to breathe. Ryke talks to an EMT. Daisy sets a reindeer-shaped sugar cookie on my belly. Thank you, Daisy. It’s what I really wanted. And Lo is right beside me, clutching my hand, telling me that this is real. That no matter what happens, he’ll be here. By the time the world catches up with me, I’m in the hospital, the clock strikes an hour past
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