Chapter 8

• Ellis arrived at the hospital in tears, feeling a knot of apprehension tighten her chest. Her hands trembled as she approached the reception, where an attentive nurse noticed her blood-soaked pants. The nurse's concern was immediately visible, and she took the initiative to quickly lead Ellis to the emergency room.
• Inside the room, an obstetrician awaited her, ready to provide the necessary care. With a compassionate look, the doctor asked Ellis to calm down, assuring her that they were there to help and take care of her and her baby. The doctor's words were a ray of hope amid her emotional turmoil.
• The obstetrician picked up the ultrasound device, preparing to assess the situation accurately. As the cold gel touched her belly, Ellis held her breath, her eyes fixed on the ultrasound screen. The anxiety was palpable as the doctor slid the device, searching for any sign of life within her.
• Ellis couldn't contain her silent pleas, asking for everything to be fine, for her baby to be safe. “Please, please,” she whispered softly, her eyes still fixed on the screen. She saw the doctor's expression change, a mixture of concentration and concern.
• Finally, after an unbearable moment of tension, the sound everyone was longing to hear echoed through the air – the fetus's heart beat loud and clear through the ultrasound device. The doctor let out a relieved sigh, and a smile formed on Ellis's lips through her tears. It was such a beautiful and reassuring sound that it seemed to fill the entire space around it.
• “It's alright,” the obstetrician said, relief and joy mixed in her voice. “Your baby is here and healthy.”
• Tears streamed down Ellis's face even more now, but they were tears of relief and gratitude. She felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, the anxiety, and fear replaced by a renewed ray of hope. She looked at the doctor with shining eyes and whispered, “Thank you, thank you for not giving up.”
• The obstetrician smiled warmly, understanding the depth of Ellis's emotion. “We're here to take care of you and your baby.”
• The obstetrician continued to explain gently, emphasizing the importance of special care in the early stages of pregnancy. “Avoid excessive strain and dealing with very strong emotions. Your well-being and your baby must be a top priority at this stage of pregnancy.”
• Then, the doctor smiled and asked a question that brought a touch of excitement to the tense atmosphere. “Would you like to know the baby's gender?”
• Ellis looked at the doctor in surprise and then looked at the ultrasound image on the screen. The idea of finding out the baby's gender at that moment was thrilling. “Is that really possible?”
• The doctor nodded with a smile. “Yes, we can do that.”
• At that moment, at the entrance of the room, appeared John, visibly desperate. His eyes quickly scanned the room until they fixed on Ellis. He had searched for her in every hospital corridor, concerned about her well-being.
• The obstetrician smiled at John and said, “You arrived just in time. We were about to find out the baby's gender.”
• John, despite not being close to Ellis and their interactions being occasional, accepted the doctor's invitation and approached, standing by her side.
• The doctor prepared the ultrasound device again, and Ellis's eyes were fixed on the screen, as the baby's heart began to echo once more, filling the room with its steady beat. The sound unexpectedly moved John, warming his heart to hear life pulsing within the woman before him.
• The obstetrician continued the examination, and then came the moment of revelation. With a tender smile, she said, “Congratulations, you have a little girl on the way.”
• Ellis's heart raced with excitement, and she couldn't help the glow of happiness in her eyes. She looked at John and saw an expression she had never seen on him before – a mix of surprise, joy, and emotion. He looked at her with a gaze that was both grateful and touched.
• “A girl,” John murmured, his voice choked with emotion. It was as if, at that moment, he had finally connected more deeply with the reality of the child to come, even if he wasn't the biological father. It was an unexpected and powerful feeling, as if something inside him had changed forever.
• While the doctor offered her congratulations to the couple, Ellis and John exchanged a meaningful look, sharing that moment of revelation and emotion. It was a moment that somehow unexpectedly united them, despite the complex circumstances of them.
• ***
• Ellis left the examination room accompanied by John, still feeling the excitement of discovering the baby's gender pulsing in her chest. As they made their way back to the car, he observed her with a mixture of concern and relief in his eyes. With a tender look, he asked, “Are you okay, Ellis?”
• She smiled softly at him, touched by his concern. “Yes, I'm fine. It was just a scare, but everything's alright now.”
• As they approached the car, Ellis looked at the photograph the doctor had handed her. It was the first image of her daughter, a glimpse of the miracle forming within her. Her eyes lingered on the image as she whispered the name, “Donna.”
• John noticed Ellis's gaze fixed on the photo and curiously asked, “What's that? Did you see something in the picture?”
• Ellis turned the photo so that John could see, and then whispered the name she had chosen, “Donna.”
• John furrowed his brow slightly, trying to understand. “Donna? Did you already have that name in mind?”
• Ellis nodded, her eyes still fixed on the photo. “Yes, it's an Italian name. It means 'lady' or 'woman.' It seemed perfect for her.”
• John looked at Ellis's belly, where little Donna was growing. He repeated the name to himself, letting it roll off his tongue as if testing the sound. “Donna...”
• As they got into the car, John smiled and said the name again, this time with a touch of joy in his voice. He started the car and looked at Ellis with an even bigger smile. “Donna. I like it.”
• Ellis smiled back at him, her eyes shining with happiness. “I like it too, John.”
• Then, almost as if they were sharing a secret, they said together, “Donna.”
• The gentle sound of their voices mingled in the air, full of meaning and hope. John drove carefully, and the smile didn't leave his face as he repeated the name of the girl who was to come. Ellis also smiled, feeling a sense of belonging and contentment.
• John looked at Ellis with eyes filled with emotion, and at that moment, all the barriers that separated them seemed to fade away.