"Fifty five, fifty six, fifty seven, fifty eight, fifty nine..."

Aaron bounced off the chair and outstretched his arm to open the swinging double doors. Soft, high pitched crying overcrowded the ambience of the room. The desperation of her tiny, little voice easily ceased the murmurs of the workers, the buzzing of the machines and the gusts of wind from outside the hospital walls.

There she was, just as beautiful as the first time he laid eyes on her. Safer than a calming ocean...

Without a second thought and with joy bouncing around within his longing heart, he opened his arms to hold Rose.

"My God... I thought I lost you again. But you're here now. You're safe... you're safe with me."

He gently rocked Rose from side to side, unbothered by the mess and ineffaceably focused on the new life impatiently sobbing in his arms.

"Hey, what do you say we go see your mama..." Aaron eagerly, yet slowly walked her next to Cara's position on the bed.

He asked a nearby nurse, "Excuse me, is my wife sleeping?"

The nurse didn't respond. She stared at him like a deer in the headlights until she couldn't bear to for a moment longer.

Aaron turned his body to shout out to Eddie, "Hey, she's still sleeping, right?"

Eddie's face was white. A shocking glare of mixed emotions unable to comprehend the events that had just unfolded. He removed his glasses and rubbed his chin.

"I'm sorry..."

Another nurse lifted a blanket and raised it over Cara's head as she fought back tears and failed to hide her displeasing quivering.

Aaron's legs gave way, forcing him to fall to the ground and causing Rose to cry hysterically. The tears would not surrender to him. He held his hands against his static face, weeping in an unbearable torment.

Eddie rubbed his left eye with his finger and gently crouched down next to Aaron.

"No... n-no... oh God..." he wept.

There it was again. The déjà vu. That feeling of hope, and what little was left of it, being helplessly drained out of sight. His cries sent shockwaves down the halls. All anyone could do was watch it unfold.

"D-did she h-have trouble breathing?" Aaron sobbed.

"No..." Eddie answered. "It wasn't her breathing. She... uh..."

Eddie paused, looking down at the floor. "She fought the good fight... and at the end of the day, it wasn't meant to be. There's nothing we could've done..."

Aaron gathered the courage to move his legs as he rose from the blue-tiled floor.

"She deserved better..." he voiced, letting the tears in his eyes escape.

"She always has..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aaron looked back in the mirror at Rose, who was peacefully fast asleep in her newborn car seat. She was just as he remembered. Every detail, spot, freckle and imperfection. The night was cold and the road was as sombre as just about anyone would expect. His thoughts would creep their way into his head as he forced his seemingly infinite journey home, yet every time he looked back at her, those intrusive thoughts would fade away. In those short, little moments his mind would clear and simply focus on one thing. The only thing that mattered.

The car steadily drifted into the driveway, as Aaron ever so gently pressed onto the brakes. He paused for a moment as he couldn't help but let some emotions out. Upon hearing Rose's grunts and soft hums, he knew it would have to wait. Upon snapping back into reality, he quietly carried Rose out of the car, up the stairs and into her cot for the first time, which was located right next to Aaron's bed. He swaddled Rose in warm blankets and fixed the position of the pillow from under her.

*CRUNCH*

Upon leaning up against the cot, Aaron heard a crunching sound from inside of his pocket. He reached down and lifted out a crumbled piece of paper. It was a note.

Dear Aaron...

It's me, writing this note. I'm writing for a number of reasons, but it's better for some things to be left unsaid. Aaron, Honey, I have no doubt in my heart that you are going to be the greatest father in the world. I don't need to explain why as you already know. Our baby is going to be so incredibly lucky to have you, just as I was and just as we all are. My time, our time together is such a gift and I will never ever take it for granted. I just want you to know that. It's going to be hard. It's going to be so, so hard, but I know how much good is in you and how strong you have become. This world is only for the strong ones and unfortunately, I don't think I am one of them. Change is the law of life, Aaron, and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. Never forget that.

It's been a privilege and an absolute joy to have spent these wonderful, incredible, memorable years with you, but all good things must come to an end.

Goodbye my love. Look after her... and look after yourself.

A single tear drop fell onto the crumpled note. He couldn't hold them in any longer. Aaron moved over to the bed and hunched to read through it again. He flicked his hair back and pondered every single word to ensure he understood the meaning. After reading her note he wistfully placed his hand on Cara's side of the bed, smelling the pillow and feeling the shape that had been formed over the many, many years. In the corner of his eye he could view Rose distinctively point towards something behind him. Aaron jolted his posture to see what she was pointing at.

There it was. The teddy bear sitting on the empty, dusty top shelf of the cupboard, where it could view everything and everyone in the room. He extended his reach to grab it, then moved over to Rose's cot. Aaron placed it beside her and was met with a smile he will never, ever forget.