My Mother-in-Law Saw My Newborn Daughter’s Arm and Went Pale—Then She Told Us We Couldn’t Keep Her

For most of the pregnancy, Julian preferred Clara.

I preferred Hope.

Now, suddenly, naming her felt almost frightening.

As though giving her a name would tempt the universe.

The nurse brought her back.

I held her.

Julian touched the tiny mark on her arm.

Then looked at me.