As the hospital doors closed behind me with a soft whoosh, I stepped out into the bright day. I raised my hand and a yellow cab pulled up. The city around me was abuzz with activity and life, but on the inside, I felt a quiet happiness. I told the driver to take me downtown.
The cab weaved through traffic, and soon, I was at a small café in the heart of the city that Alice had recommended. As I waited for my lemonade refresher and sandwich, I rested my hand on my stomach, feeling the slight new curve there. It could hardly be called a bump, but it was the first sign of the little life growing inside me.
I couldn’t help but smile when the waiter brought my order over. The sandwich looked delicious. My stomach growled its agreement, a reminder that I’d almost skipped lunch, and an indication that I was hungrier than I thought.