Chapter 19 - The Arrival
Two months later, the autumn chill gave way to the crisp, bright mornings of November.
I was thirty-nine weeks pregnant when I woke up at 3:00 AM with steady, unmistakable contractions.
There was no panic, no frantic arguments, and no walking on eggshells. I calmly woke my parents, who were packed and ready by the front door within ten minutes, and we drove to the Manhattan hospital where my obstetrician was on call.
Twelve hours later, under the bright, warm lights of the delivery room, my baby finally entered the world.
A healthy, beautiful little girl with bright eyes and a fierce, healthy cry.
When the nurse gently placed her warm, squirming body against my chest, every hardship, every tear, and every bitter night dissolved into nothingness. I stroked her soft, dark hair, tears streaming down my face as my parents stood by the bedside, holding each other and beaming with pride.
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We named her Maya—meaning water, strength, and the power to carve through stone.
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