G

​After watching them for a moment, you lifted your arm to fix your hair. That was when William caught the movement and turned his brown eyes to you. His eyes and lips expressed happiness all at once.

​"Oh, look who's awake." Even as he said it, he nuzzled your daughter's cheek with his nose. You felt a gentle pang of affection—from now on, she was number one.

​William was walking back and forth in the room, cooing and soothing her. She was making small baby noises, saying she felt amazing in her own little language.

​"I wish my mom could have seen her," William said without taking his eyes off the baby. That alone was enough to bring tears to your eyes.

​"William..." You just managed to say his name. You tried to keep speaking, but you couldn't; it felt like a heavy lump was stuck in your throat. You weren't even sure if he heard you. After swallowing hard, you tried again.

​"We'll make sure she knows her grandmother, honey."

​"It's not the same." As he said this, he lifted his head to look at you for the first time. You saw a faint, broken smile on his face. His lips parted slightly as his eyes scanned the room, as if he were looking for something or someone.

​"I wonder what she would say. I guess she'd have a few things to tell us, you know..." He took a breath. "...about taking care of a baby."

​You hadn't lost your own mother, so while you could empathize, you couldn't fully understand William's pain. Still, you knew the days when the air grew heavy and the house fell quiet—on her anniversary or on Mother's Day. Until today, you had looked at everything as William's partner, trying to see the world through his eyes. But now, as a mother yourself, you could understand William's mother even better than you understood William. It must have been so painful for her to leave her precious son alone in this world. You had only been a mom for a few hours, but you could already feel that deep connection.

​"William... I believe she can feel her granddaughter's existence, and she's so happy. Not just for her, but for you too. She must be overflowing with joy seeing her son become a dad. I wish she were here too, but-"

​"We can't undo what happened."

​Tears streamed down your cheeks, falling toward your neck. You truly wished she were here, but what William said was painfully true. You wiped your tears away and fanned your face with your hands.

​"Come here."

​William walked over to the side of your bed and sat on the edge. You pressed a warm kiss firmly against his cheek while your hand rested on the back of his neck. He placed a soft kiss on your lips, and as your foreheads rested together, neither of you could stop looking at your little baby.

​You didn't say it out loud, but the exact same thought crossed both of your minds:

​"We will be with you forever."