A newborn's insistent cry cut through the tense silence as Cora fell back into the pillows releasing a huff of a breath. Her relief was instantaneous as her child entered the world, finally. Every part of her let go of the strain of the last couple of days and she took a moment to just breathe. Vaguely, Cora felt another contraction work through her, but it didn't hurt like before.
"Congratulations, you have a daughter." Tilly's voice held a smile as she handed a wrapped bundle to Cora.
Cora took the tiny thing gingerly. She was honestly afraid to break what she held. She pushed the blanket back from the newborn's face and stared in awe. The baby was perfect. She had a button nose and tiny features.
Dark hair was curled over her tiny head and long lashes fell across slightly pink cheeks. Cora ran a fingertip across a small, clenched fist and watched tiny fingers grasp at her finger tipped with the smallest fingernails she had ever seen.
