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I had no idea I could fall in love with someone so fast. The moment she came into this world, crying at the top of her lungs, I knew she’d be my entire world.

Genesis’s and my entire world because I can see the love radiating off Genesis.

She’ll be a great mom.

Speaking of mothers.

We haven’t heard from hers since she called her about Prosecutor Cliff Sikes mentioning her. They put a warrant out for her mother’s arrest, but as far as we knew, she’s still out of the country. My guess is she’ll never come back, and Genesis has stopped reaching out to her.

Genesis glances up at me with tired eyes. “What about Melissa?” There’s no missing the nervousness in her voice, like she isn’t sure if the idea will excite or sadden me.

“Melissa,” I say, repeating the word slowly. I’m quiet for a moment before softening my voice. “What do you think, baby girl? Do you want to be named after your aunt?”

Our baby coos.

I grin.

“I think that’s a yes,” Genesis says around a light laugh as a tear slips down her cheek.

I tip my head forward to kiss her forehead before staring up at the ceiling. “Look, Ma. You have another granddaughter.”

I sniffle, holding myself back from getting emotional.

I won’t lie and say I managed that same strength when I held her for the first time. It was like my heart was fully filled with warmth in a way it never had been.

While Genesis had helped heal it, my baby girl was the finishing piece for it.

“Melissa is a beautiful name.” The nurse smiles, taking in the moment. “Please let me know if you need anything.”

Genesis’s cheeks are flushed as her eyes well with tears.

“Baby,” I whisper, cupping her face with my hand, “we did it.”

“We did it,” she says, releasing a full-on sob.

“Thank you for giving me something to live for,” I say, stroking her skin. “For so long, I thought my life had done nothing but crumble to ruins. But here you came into my life, building me up inch by inch until I reached happiness.”

She grabs my free hand in hers and squeezes it as I snuggle closer to them.

Genesis created my light.

My happiness.

My new beginning.