The Replacement Daughter
Mom's emotions remained unstable, and the doctor said she needed to stay for observation so the stress would not affect the baby.
I floated around the hospital room, watching her stroke her belly as tears fell onto the blanket. She mumbled, "Beau, Lily's gone. I'm so sorry."
Dad sat by the bed, handing Mom a peeled apple. "From now on, we'll take good care of Beau and visit Lily often. We'll make up for everything we owe her."
Mom took the apple and bit into it, tears streaming down again. "I always thought she was just a replacement, but now that she's gone, I realize she was her own person... My precious Lily, not anyone's shadow."