Tears filled her eyes, but this time, it wasn't tears of sorrow, but tears of joy. She was a cancer patient, lying on the hospital bed, but this time, not for her cancer, but for... her daughter.
She was a teenage girl who had cancer, and another human life.
She sat there, with a red little bundle dressed in pink, laying so delicately in her arms. This little blessing doesn't have bad lungs yet, she thought, and she still has both legs. Hazel felt a little worry tug at back of her mind, but she didn't let it ruin her, no their, moment. Philip the oxygen tank stayed next to her on the floor.
Exhaustion and lack of oxygen circulation cause a major headache for her, but that couldn't ruin this miracle. Just a year ago, she would have marveled at the thought of having a child, and deemed it impossible. Even a day ago, she couldn't believe she was going into labor. And, as she stared at the miracle in her arms, and though she wasn't religious, this moment made Hazel want to pray.
She didn't mean to have a child at this age. But this is what happened.
A knock at the door.
"Come in," Hazel said, exhausted. She tried to catch her breath after saying does two short words. It was her mom.
"Hi, sweetie," her mom said. She looked from Hazel to the newborn, and then smiled a sad, sweet smile. "Can I hold her?"
Hazel smiled. "Sure, Mom. After all, she is your granddaughter." She slowly handed the baby to her mother.
"You know Hazel, I didn't know I was going to be a grandmother at such a young age," her mother said. They both broke into a smile.
After a while, the baby opened her eyes. Beautiful blue eyes. Just like Augustus.
"Mom..." Hazel said.
"Hm?" she said.
"She looks like Augustus. I mean, her eyes. They look so ... beautiful."
"Do you wish he was here?" her mom asked.
Hazel answered, "I would, but the world isn't a wish granting factory."