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“Love you too, Skye.”

* * *

Liam

Beingin a hospital as a med student or as a visitor is quite different from being in a hospital as a patient. For a while I wondered if everything I went through in the service would taint me as a future doctor. But I now know it will give me an edge. I’ll be able to relate to my future patients in a deeper level because of everything I experienced. Being in a hospital no longer feels like being in a prison. I’m not trapped by my wounds and scars. They no longer wear me down. I wear them with honor and pride. Every cut to my flesh and soul brought me here, and here is undiluted happiness.

I look at all the faces around me. Everyone has a story to tell and all of them have their dark moments. We all do. The key is not to dwell on those dark moments. The key is to use the dark to find the light. Because in the darkest nights, you can see even the smallest light. And that’s all it takes to find your way out. Just follow that one small spark of light. I followed River’s spark and I’ll keep on following her forever.

I look at my twin nephews. Skye holds one and Logan the other. The tiny babies, wrapped in blue, make happy sounds in their parents’ arms. I want this for myself. I want this with River. Her voice brings me back to the room.

“I still think you should name them River Two and River Three.” She waves her hand at the babies—her left hand. The ring sparkles under the fluorescent lights above. I watch as Skye’s eyes widen when she sees the ring.

“Is that a . . . ?” she asks River but doesn’t finish the question.

River glances at me and gives away the answer to the question. I just smile. We decided not to say anything until Skye is back home, but I guess that plan failed.

Serena, the girls’ mom, steps closer and takes River’s hand. Logan looks at me. He already knows. I told him before I proposed and asked him to keep quiet about it. Skye’s surprise is a good indication Logan didn’t share my secret.

“When did this happen?” Serena asks River.

River gives me a look that tells me trouble is coming and then smirks.

Oh, fuck!

“Well, Mom. It was very romantic . . .”