The Journey Forward--Part 13
Part XIII

Hilde glanced at the doorway. Duo allowed the door to close behind him as he searched the room for her. He grinned when he found her.

“So, when are you going to try again?” Melanie, the student asked.

“Try what again?” Hilde asked absently. She grudgingly accepted Rachel’s help to get to her feet.

“Try for another baby.”

Hilde almost let go of Rachel’s hand. She yelped in pain as most of her weight fell on her injured leg. Rachel quickly righted her but Hilde’s eyes stayed on the student. “Baby?”

Duo took her other hand. “Hilde, babe, are you all right?”

“What do you mean ‘try for another baby’?” Hilde demanded.

Melanie stepped back. “I’m sorry. I have confused you with someone else.”

But as she turned to Duo, Hilde knew that there was no mistake. The pain in his eyes was unmistakable. “We were having a baby?”

He nodded.

“Oh, God.” Duo reached for her and she fell against his chest with a sob.

They had been trying for so long. They had kept hoping against hope despite the doctor’s advice. And it had finally happened, only to be taken away.

“A baby. Our baby.”

“I’m so sorry, Hilde,” he said into her hair. “I‘m so sorry.”