When I finally went into labor early yesterday morning, Desmond stayed right beside me through the long, exhausting hours that followed, holding my hand through every contraction like he could somehow absorb some of it himself.
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Just after midnight, our daughter finally arrived. Hearing her first loud, healthy cry was, without question, the greatest relief of my entire life. The pediatric nurse carried her to the warming station to clean her up and run the standard checks, smiling as she told us we had a perfectly healthy baby girl.
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A few minutes later, she wrapped our daughter in a warm blanket, leaving one tiny shoulder slightly exposed, and carried her over to Desmond. He had tears in his eyes as he reached out and took his daughter into his arms for the very first time.
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I lay back against the pillows, exhausted and completely happy, waiting for that beautiful, quiet moment of connection between them.
But as Desmond looked down at her, his entire expression changed. His smile disappeared, and the color drained completely out of his face.
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