Chapter 8

I spend a lot of time with the girls. It is nearly their first birthday, so Georgina and I spend a lot of time planning a party for them. Jackson is always away at the hospital, sometimes at work. Mostly, though, I am alone at home with the girls. Sometimes Georgina is here with me, and other times, Liam. Things are getting back to normal, almost, except Marcus still has not moved even though he has been breathing on his own for a week. I am sitting with the girls, feeding them, smiling at how life has thrown so much at me, yet I am still here. In the past week Jackson and I have gotten closer. I have begun to feel safe again, like nothing has happened. Every night, when he gets back, I am waiting in the room for him. Every night I have waited, and every night he has come back. He walks through the door. My head snaps up. He is early, way too early. He is smiling and happy.

“He is awake, Alena.” His arms wrap around me, his body almost crushing me. “Guess what his first words