Chapter 44 - The Next Step
Married life settled into a beautiful, predictable rhythm.
We navigated Clara’s transition to first grade, we survived the flu season, and we spent our weekends exploring the hiking trails outside the city.
One evening, while we were sitting on the back porch watching Clara chase fireflies in the yard, Mark took my hand.
"I was thinking," Mark said tentatively.
"That's dangerous," I teased.
"I love our family," he said, looking at Clara, and then at me. "But... if you were ever open to it... I'd love to have a baby with you."
I went completely still.
The idea of being pregnant again was terrifying. My last pregnancy was marked by the trauma of the collapse, the fear of dying before Clara was even born. I had associated pregnancy with a frantic, desperate survival instinct.
"I'm scared," I admitted honestly.
"I know," Mark said, squeezing my hand. "And if the answer is no, I am perfectly happy with exactly what we have. But if you want to rewrite that experience... we can do it together."
May you like
I looked at the fireflies. I looked at the vast, open night sky.
"Let's rewrite it," I said.
