Alicia held her son, Edduin, close, softly whispering, “Don’t worry, honey. Everything will be okay. Mommy’s here.” Another restless night had passed, with Edduin crying uncontrollably. Alicia put her work aside and gently rocked him on the couch, humming a lullaby until he finally calmed down. Once he was asleep, she carefully placed him in his crib, kissed him tenderly, and tiptoed out of the room.
As she sipped her coffee, exhaustion washed over her. Thoughts of her late husband, John, filled her mind. “I wish you were here,” she murmured, missing him dearly.
Nearly a year ago, Alicia and John had been preparing for a new chapter in their lives. After years of uncertainty about starting a family, they had planned to travel the world. Just before embarking on their dream trip to the Bahamas, Alicia discovered she was expecting. Overjoyed, they returned to their hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina, to share the news with loved ones.
Alicia and John, both raised in foster care, had built a loving home together. John worked as a managing director for a household electronics company, while Alicia planned to focus on raising their child. Life seemed perfect—until an unexpected tragedy struck.
During a business trip, John was involved in a car accident. The devastating news sent Alicia into premature labor. Thankfully, her neighbor, Mrs. Hall, acted quickly and got her to the hospital, where she gave birth to their son, Edduin. After spending several weeks in the NICU, the baby was finally strong enough to come home.
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