CLAIRE

I woke up to sunlight streaming through the window and the smell of coffee drifting down the hallway. For a moment, I just lay there, my body heavy and my eyes swollen from crying the night before.Then I remembered: the grief, the tears.

My hand moved to my stomach automatically, the gesture becoming familiar now, and I took a deep breath.

Today was a new day and I had to keep moving forward. I got out of bed slowly and walked to the bathroom, wincing when I saw my reflection. My eyes were puffy and red, my face pale and drawn.

There was no hiding that I'd been crying....