*****
The hospital smells of disinfectant and early morning. Everything is calm, almost suspended in time, as if the universe itself were holding its breath in anticipation of this little miracle. We silently take the elevator up to the maternity ward. Dominic walks ahead of us, his back tense, fists clenched. I want to tell him to breathe, that everything will be fine, but I refrain. Sometimes, the best support is simply being there.
In the waiting room, there's only a nurse yawning in front of a monitor. Dominic approaches the counter.
"Susan Jones?" he asks.
The woman checks her computer.
"Delivery room one. Her doctor is already with her. You can wait here. As soon as the baby is born, we'll let you know."
Dominic nods and sinks into one of the chairs. He stares at the floor, elb
