Chapter 10: The Departure
The afternoon sun streamed through the hospital window, casting a warm, golden hue over Sarah’s room. It was discharge day. Alex was methodically packing their bags, meticulously organizing the tiny baby socks and the spare blankets they had accumulated over the last few days.
Sarah sat on the edge of the bed, already dressed in her own clothes. She held her daughter close, gently rocking her.
A soft knock on the door frame made them both look up. Liam stood there, out of uniform, wearing a simple flannel shirt and jeans.
"I heard someone was breaking out of here today," Liam said with a warm smile, stepping into the room.
"Liam!" Sarah’s face lit up. She shifted the baby into one arm and reached out with the other. Liam stepped in and gave her a gentle, careful hug.
"We were hoping we'd see you before we left," Alex said, walking over to shake Liam's hand firmly. "We wanted to properly introduce you."
Alex gently scooped the baby from Sarah's arms and turned toward the firefighter. The infant was wide awake, her tiny dark eyes blinking against the sunlight.
"Liam, we want you to meet Grace," Sarah said, her voice thick with emotion. "Grace Hope Jenkins."
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Liam looked down at the tiny, fragile life wrapped in a pink blanket. He reached out a large, calloused finger, and Grace immediately curled her tiny hand around it. A lump formed in his throat. In his line of work, he saw the end of life far too often. Seeing the very beginning of it, especially after how close they had come to the alternative, was profoundly humbling.
"She is beautiful," Liam whispered. "She’s got her mother’s strength, I can already tell."
