My baby.
Our baby.
A tiny life growing inside the woman I?—
The woman I what?
The woman I care about.
The woman I can't stop thinking about.
The woman who makes me feel alive for the first time in two years.
The woman I?—
"A miracle," I say.
The word surprises me.
But it's true.
"This is a miracle, Antonella. I don't know how it happened. I don't know why it happened. But you're carrying my child, and that's?—"
My voice cracks.
Fuck.
I clear my throat.
"That's the most incredible thing anyone has ever given me."
Her eyes fill with tears.
"Really?"
"Really."
"You want this? You want the baby?"
"I want you." The words come out before I can stop them. "I want you, and I want this baby, and I want?—"
I stop.
Breathe.
"I want everything, Antonella. I want things I don't know how to name. I want things I'm terrified to ask for. But I want them with you."
A tear slides down her cheek.
Then another.
She's crying.
And smiling.
And looking at me like I've just given her the world.
"You're crying," I say.
