For Emily, the walk lasted forever as she and her father strolled through the maze of hallways. It was the first time she had been in a hospital. So many unanswered questions raced through her head. What if he didn’t like her? What if she didn’t like him? What if mommy and daddy stopped loving her? Emily’s grip tightened in her father’s hand.
They approached a door standing ajar and walked inside where her mother lay. Emily let go of her father’s hand and hid behind his back.
“Where’s my Emily?” her mother cooed.
Emily stepped out from behind her father and crept to the side of the bed. She stared at the bundle in her mother’s arms.
“This is your brother Ethan.”
Emily’s eyes met Ethan’s. She reached for his hand, and the warm little finger wrapped around her own. She smiled and kissed him tenderly on his forehead.
© Natalie Goodwin, 2020
Natalie Goodwin 