Lily cried until exhaustion took over.
She fell asleep in Daniel’s arms.
The twins remained in intensive care through the night.
The boy, whom Anna had named Noah, responded well to warming and fluids.
His sister, Grace, developed breathing complications and needed additional support.
Daniel stayed between the neonatal unit and the room where Lily slept.
Shortly after midnight, preliminary testing confirmed what Anna had written.
Daniel was Lily’s biological father.
He received the result while sitting beside her bed.
He read it twice.
Then he folded the paper and placed it beneath the letter.
At 4:36 the next morning, Anna opened her eyes.
A nurse asked her name.
She answered weakly.
Then she asked for her children.
All three were alive.
The nurse explained that Lily was safe and the twins were receiving treatment.
Anna began crying.
“Did she walk?”
“Yes.”
“The wheelbarrow?”
“She brought them in it.”
