Two hours. Two hours ago I sat in this hospital bed, pain consuming my every sense. Two hours ago, I was alone, Lindsey had not yet arrived. Two hours ago I was scared and nervous and alone. Two hours and my life changed.

Lindsey's sat next to me, scrunched between the rails on this tiny single bed, peering over my shoulder at our miracle.

"She's so beautiful" he tells me. "Does she have a name?"

"No" I tell him, not making eye contact.

"Oh, okay" he says. He goes back to looking at the baby. He can't read me and I know it scares him but honestly I can't read myself. I feel a little numb. "I'm really proud of you, Stephanie. I'm never seen anything more magical in my life"

"Thank you, Lindsey"

"I'm sorry I couldn't have done more. I'm sorry I wasn't by your side this entire time."

"It's okay"

"It's not. Things could have been different"

"Just focus on the baby, Lindsey"

"No, Stevie. We could have gotten married"

"No..."

"We could have been happy"

"No we couldn't have. We have no money, the album failed...you left me" I say, fighting tears.

"I didn't know about--"

"Shh!"

"She looks just like us" he says, changing the subject.

"We made her"

"You know what I mean."

"A perfect combination. I hope she gets your eyes"

"She already has your nose and your lips."

"Did they tell you how much time we had left?"

"No but I'm sure it's not long. I will give you some alone time with her" he says and I nod. He carefully gets off the bed and leaves the room, slipping out silently. The door closes softly behind him and I sigh.

"You are so loved." I tell her, stroking her soft brown hair. "You are so special. I can tell you'll be someone big in this world. You're so peaceful. I know you're going to be smart, and kind. Maybe you'll love music and love to read. Maybe you'll like to write poetry or stories...you could weave your own little world with words and melody like me and your daddy do. Speaking of your daddy, despite everything that happened, he's such a great guy, baby girl. We are so happy you exist. We may never meet again but when you look up at the stars, we are looking at the very same ones. For a moment, we will all be together. Isn't that amazing? We live in the same time but different places and I will always be right here" I say, placing a hand on her little chest. I can feel her fast heartbeat and I begin to cry. "I would do anything to be able to keep you. You are everything I've ever wanted, baby girl. I hope one day you will understand and know that I love you. I want you to have the most beautiful life imaginable and I can't give you that. God, I wish I could" I can no longer speak, tears falling down my cheeks. Lindsey comes back and something in his eyes tells me he heard everything I said. I instantly become a little embarrassed, my cheeks turning pink as he watches my expressions change.

"You can still change your mind" he tells me and I shake my head.

"Everything has been signed"

He shakes his head sadly. "I'm sorry"

"It's okay"

"I love her"

"Me too"

"Can I hold her?" He asks.

"Of course"

He sits next to me again and he takes her into his arms. It looks so natural and 'right'. Tears spring to his eyes and he strokes her little face. "One day when we're rich and famous, we will find you and we will know you." He says. "We love you so much. Your mama made such a selfless decision and I'm going to support her through this. You're going to have such an awesome life, kid." He leans down and kisses her forehead. "Call her green and the winters can not fade her, call her green for the children who had made her. Little green, be a gypsy dancer..." he sings and I can't even remember if the words are right but they sound perfect to me. We sing a little more and for a moment, she opens her beautiful eyes, taking us in. I gasp at her curious nature. She reaches out a hand and takes Lindsey's finger in all of her tiny fist. She closes her eyes again and her hand falls away. We are so in awe. He kisses my forehead and the warmth in this action comforts me. A nurse comes in and takes her right from his arms and we both cry as she's placed in her cot.

"Goodbye, little one" I say, kissing my fingers and placing it on her lips.

"This isn't goodbye" he reassures me and I nod, leaning into him. The nurse leaves with our baby and it seems so final. He holds me close and lets me cry.

Two hours ago, my heart leapt from my chest and was handed to someone else to cherish and Lindsey has been here to hold my hand and tell me I did the right thing.

As the weeks pass, he tells me not to blame myself as I walk around my tiny apartment and cry. The rent is past due again and I know I saved her. It's true, we have no money and I couldn't give her any thing she wanted. The only thing we could have given her was an unimaginable amount of love and maybe in another life, another universe that would have been more than enough.