I wrote the first part of this letter five days ago. I was going to throw it away, but changed my mind and decided to share it. How else can I help you understand how swiftly things can change, and how easily a heart can be torn to pieces?

Our baby is gone. While I was writing to you, I felt the pains start, hard and sharp. I knew what was happening and that it was far too soon. My only faint hope was that the labor could be stopped.

Brianna was asleep. I called my cousin, Tricia, to come and take her. Then I called the paramedics, unlocked the front door, and shut myself in the bathroom with my phone.

I won’t go into details, but by the time everyone got to the house, it was over. I had lost the baby alone in the bathroom. Brianna was still asleep. Tricia stayed with her while the paramedics cleaned up and took me to the hospital.

Again, I’ll spare you the details, which you can learn when you get home. In the hospital, there were complications. To save my life, the doctors had to perform an emergency hysterectomy. That’s right, my love, no more babies ever. We will have to settle for our beautiful, perfect Brianna.

Allison laid the pages on the desk, her tears blurring the lamplight into rainbows. Oh, Kate, Kate . . . How did you survive this terrible loss alone? How could you be so strong?

Wiping her eyes, she picked up the pages and read the rest of Kate’s letter.

I am at home now, recovering as well as could be expected, so there’s no need for you to rush back from your trip to take care of me. Brianna knows about the baby, but she doesn’t really understand what happened, which is just as well. I am doing my best to be “normal” for her sake. I don’t want you to feel guilty about not being here. There was no way you could have known, and nothing you could have done.

So we will move on, my love. We will enjoy our daughter and each other and try to focus on the good things life has given us—and not to wish for what can no longer be.

Your Kate

Allison folded the pages, slipped them back into the envelope, and put the letters away. She couldn’t imagine being as strong as Kate. Yes, she was facing her own crisis and trying to bear up under stress, but it was nothing compared to what Kate had gone through. This heartbreaking letter had been timely, a lesson in resignation and acceptance.