big mess of a family.
My mother is beside herself with joy. She’s told
everyone in the neighborhood that her
granddaughter was just born and she can’t wait to
bring her home.
Erin is inside, by now they let her spend a little
time with the baby but she doesn’t want to let her
go. Every time she has to put her back in the
incubator she cries for an hour and I’m there to
console her.
That asshole Nate is also here. Okay, he doesn’t
bother me as much as he did before, and I do feel
some empathy for him, but he’s still an asshole. He
stays to the side, looking on from a distance,
unable to say or do anything.
I can understand him. He feels out of place, but
he shouldn’t because Lily is his daughter and
always will be, no matter what.
Erin comes out of the room and greets
everyone, drying her eyes. She’s sad and depressed
and I’d like to make her laugh like I used to but I
don’t think one of my jokes would do it.
I can’t imagine what it means to her to have to
leave Lily. If it’s really painful for me it must be
unsustainable for her. I squeeze her gently, giving
her a kiss on the forehead.
“Be strong, it’s almost over, you just need to
hang on a bit longer.”
She nods, unconvinced and my mother takes her
in her arms.
