Time slipped away as I went under, the operating room fading into a void. I awoke to a symphony of soft beeps, the sterile smell of antiseptic, and a gentle pressure on my hand. I turned to see my old friend, Ashley, standing there, her eyes filled with warmth and worry.

“You did it, Nora,” she smiled through tears. “The babies are safe.”

Emotion welled up inside me, a tidal wave threatening to break. “Are they… okay?” My voice was hoarse, each word a struggle through the fog.