My daughter, Nevaeh, had woken me up with her tiny little cries a few hours later. I finally got to see her properly and noticed some things about her features.
Though her facial features, precisely her nose and mouth, resemble mine, she has her father's green eyes and some patches of his black hair. I hope she doesn't grow up to look like him; the thought of it makes me sad, but I shake it off.
I breastfeed her for the first time, and it feels both very exciting and ticklish. She only drinks the little milk her tiny baby belly can accept before she falls right back asleep like the sweet darling she is.
I kiss her forehead and wish her a good sleep before putting her back in her crib.
My stomach growls, reminding me just how long it's been since I've had anything to eat. Despite the memory of ingesting poison coming back to me as a flashback, it's unable to drive the hunger away, and I decide to get myself something.
Emily, who had previously been off duty because her mother was sick, had returned not too long ago, and she apologized for not being there for me when I needed her, despite the fact that the situation was beyond all of our control.
I told her it wasn't her fault and tried to reason with her, but I couldn't talk her out of doing a double shift. She decided she was going to stay outside my room all night so she would be able to get me something if I needed it.
She also gave me a bell which I would ring if I needed anything. My eyes darted to the bell and I shook my head. No, I won't use it. I'm the reason she had to leave her sick mother and even take a double shift. I'm the reason she can't be with her family tonight because she wants to serve me, so I won't burden her anymore.