Epilogue

Five months later...

With one last exhausted push, Clare Edwards's head hit the pillow with a thump.

The cries of a newborn baby echoed in her mind, and she smiled with her eyes closed. She was very tired after almost ten hours of labor, but it had been worth it. All the pain, loss, and suffering she'd endured had been worth it. She was breathing heavy – almost in a world of her own – but she could still hear the doctor.

"It's a boy."

Her smile widened considerably. "A son," She panted, feeling an almost desperation to hold her newborn son, "I've a son..."

"We'll have him cleaned up in no time, Miss Edwards, and then you can hold your son. Do you know what you're going to name him?"

Despite being in an almost daze, Clare nodded. "Elijah," She whispered. "Eli for short.."

The nurse smiled. "A wonderful name, Miss Edwards." Another nurse handed her the bundled up and now silent newborn, for which she passed to Clare easily. "We'll let you two have some time alone."

As the room cleared out, Clare looked down at her son and for the first time in a long time, didn't feel completely alone. The loss of Eli still pained her, but now there was someone to help fill that void that his death had caused. "I won't lie to you, little man," She said, rubbing her index finger along the chubby little chin, "Your namesake isn't your biological father, but rather of the man I wanted so badly to be your father. Who should have been your father. We all make mistakes, and I paid a terrible price for mine." Her bottom lip quivered as a tear trailed down her cheek. "You've got a big responisbility to handle. You've got to be my little Eli, okay? I don't want to miss him to the point I cry every night because I have you." She reached down and kissed the infant's forrehead.

"I love you, Eli," She looked up at the ceiling, fresh tears spilling from her eyes as she looked to the Lord and hevean. "He wasn't perfect, God, but I know you'd accept him for what he did for me. Tell him I love and miss him so much. Tell him I'm forever thankful to him."

The End.